There was something enjoyable, Urna decided, in hearing her name so often (and courteously) from another's mouth. "Hah. In a manner. It's Verdantis that's new, but it grew fast and strong."
Even River Delta seemed to be relaxing, a little, which seemed like a good sign. And then he said something that made her brain break.
Another pack
that follows
our goddess.
Urna went unmistakably still. Even the subconscious motion of her tentacles slowed to nothing. It could be said that she was thinking, but in reality she struggled to pull together anything but the slow-dawning understanding that dominated her mental landscape.
She didn't hate Tsillah, or her followers, necessarily. But Duskorna was a completely different matter. "Duskorna," she said, because it was the only idea that could make it into words, but Delta had already moved on. She struggled to recall his latest question.
Was Verdantis land? There must be something she wasn't understanding. Some…water-creature significance to the question. "Yes? It's land and water. Like this." She gestured at how the stream cut through the landscape. "Like, rivers? And swamps, and lakes. I don't think it touches the ocean, though." Why was she being courteous, still? This cat was Tsillan. If he was to join a kingdom, it would be Duskorna, and any benefit she gave him now would be theirs to claim.
Or maybe you can back off and have a polite interaction for once in your life, an inner voice snarled.
Maybe someone more calculating could find a way to twist it to their advantage, but Urna had no such interest. She'd see it through.
"Speaking of, I should return to Verdantis." Urna ducked her head in a shallow bow. "If you find yourself by Muddy River territory again, make sure a sentry knows you're there. You can ask for me by name." She turned to go, her unconcerned body language deliberate. "Wouldn't want you getting in trouble."