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Lilin didn't know if she'd done the right thing in revealing Temeraire's secret, as he hadn't explicitely told his father about it. Perhaps he wanted Saul to notice. Regardless of his reasons, the boy deserved praise for what he'd done. She didn't blame her beau for not suspecting his son's good deed; most of the time, it was Lilin herself doing some extra cleaning to help her pack mates out. Although it wasn't expected or required of her, it was a habit she'd acquired while living in Hilsburn. She didn't mind it at all.
Her sudden change of subject had been successful for a good moment. Verbally, he'd had no time to respond but his narrowed gaze spoke a thousand words. If there was one disadvantage to knowing someone extremely well, this was it: he could see right through her. She found it hard to swallow, wondering if he'd cut her off mid-sentence and force an explanation out of her. He didn't though, not immediately at least. She was both relieved and surprised when he admitted to knowing the blonde merchant. At least she was no charlatan - Artan was a healthy horse, and witchhazel was valuable as far as her knowledge went.
Saul had acknowledged her teasing comment with a chuckle, leading her to believe she was off the hook. Victory was brief, taken from within her grasp when his gaze met hers with a strictness she hadn't anticipated. His voice was soft but it didn't stop her receivers from laying flat on top of her head. "I just-" she paused, visibly pondering the easiest way to make her feelings known. "Where is Temeraire's mother? Do you not love her anymore?" Why had they parted ways so shortly after their son's birth? It made no sense to her, even if she was a woman with very little motherly instincts.
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