Velentham returned to the inn under his familiar cloak of invisibility, after all, the less attention on him, the better, and a towering man with wings and gold skin was bound to command all eyes. He slipped back into the inn room, the blue of the spell reacting, giving him access to cross the barrier. He walked over to Sanria with a smile and woke her with a word. "Wake, my love, you need to eat." He fed her, he watched as she walked to the bath and cleaned herself, he passionately made love to her, he listened as she started in again with the damned questions.
"Do you think we could take a walk to the pier?" she asked, pointing out the window. "It looks really nice."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's not safe," he said, only mildly irritated.
"But -"
"No." This time he meant it. The damnable questions, always the damned questions. "We'll be leaving here soon enough and we're going home."
He touched her cheek and pressed lightly with force on her mind - he posited the picture of the white cabin his father had built in the plane so far from here. He could have outright forced her to his desires and ways of thinking, but to petition, she had to be following him willingly. And he wanted her to choose him willingly... or... at least something like it. Small coercion was a price he would pay. He smiled at the change in her face, knowing he had succeeded. "So," she began, "What will happen to the cottage?" Gilean's cottage. Damn.
"That... doesn't matter."
"Okay..." She looked around the room and Velentham kept his irritation as quiet as possible. "Where's the door?"
"Don't worry about it," he said flatly. Given the spell he'd cast, he was the only one who could see it anyway. "Love, I'm going to take care of a few things, I need you to rest."
"But, I just woke up - "
"I know, but I'll take care of these things and be back."
"I could come with you..."
"No. You stay here and be safe." He looked at her with meaning, pressing upon her mind, smiling into her eyes.
"Yes... I'll stay here."
"Good."
He kissed her, and it was sweet. He brushed his hand against her mind, uttering his spell, and she drifted back into slumber. Then Velentham got up, looked back at his woman, and headed out into the streets. He'd find the mages that ran the town and see if they had any information for him.
