Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tam smiles. "I know... I raised you, remember?" Suddenly his face darkens and he turns to Passura. "Chosen one... " he calls urgently. The boy's head comes up expectantly which causes Tam's face to go deeply sad. "Could you bring me some of that delicious fish you made earlier?" he asks, but Kero knows it is only a makeshift excuse. Something had clicked in Tam's mind, something not very pleasant.

Tam nods his thanks as the boy brings him a small plate of fish, then waits until he goes back to talk with Lyssan before telling Kero what he remembered.

"Certain children are chosen at birth... to live a celibate lifestyle and to offer their lives, if necessary, in the face of dangers. He no doubt lived a fairly comfortable life... but he probably was the focus of the attack in the first place. Such raids are common... as these children are preternaturally gifted. Has he showed you any sign that he has abilities other than what I told you?"

Tam snorts softly through his nose. "If I had my way, that practice would be abolished... completely." He touches Mara's head and smiles lovingly down at his daughter. "Raise them to be selfless, yes. Raise them to put the lives of others before their own... raise them to be honorable and just... but do not force them down this path. Allow them the freedom to make that sacrifice of their own free will. That is how to raise a child."

The boy flashes him a pout and eyes his empty bowl with a look of deprived sadness... completely and absolutely contrived, which sends all four adults into gales of laughter.

The boy's head comes up with a wide grin and he nods furiously, looking at him expectantly... and not a moment too soon for the laughter has awakened the babies and Mara is beginning to screw up her face, preparing to emit one of her blood curdling wails.

**Argeeis is Greek... do ye know what for... kind of fitting... and Mara is Hebrew for bitter... names were chosen specially... **

Lyssan rushes to pick up Mara even as Tam reaches for her sister and between the two of them they soon have the two quieted down, noticing only after the fact that somehow Bez has managed to excuse himself as well in the process.

"Men..." growls Lyssan with a sour laugh... "Always willing to put us in this position... but never there when ye need them..."

Passura grins from ear to ear. He has never had ice cream before. His people live comfortably but have no such thing as electricity or refrigeration. Suddenly, as he is shoveling it in, trying his best not to be rude but not wanting it to melt either, he gives a silent cry of pain.... brain freeze.

The boy tries and after a few false starts manages to relieve the sensation. "Wha... what was that? Were you mad at me?" he asks hesitantly. It was a bit more intense than most corrections he had received as a toddler, but quick sharp mental jabs... more warning than true punishments are what is used amongst his people to correct their young when they are too young to truly know better.

He seems confused by your answer, as his people communicate by mind and see nothing about invading the surface thoughts of one another. They wouldn't probe, but neither do they feel the need to hide anything. He shrugs and hesitantly tries one more bite. The nerve is still sensitive, but no more than that, showing him Kero is correct in his assessment of the problem. Now he eats it quite slowly and finds that even though it mealts it still tastes very good.

"Mes'sirrah... why is it wrong to read another's thoughts?" he asks outloud quietly once he has finished his dessert.