Claire was tired and it showed. Her flames had not flared to life in a long time now, not that anyone cared or noticed. She kept holed in the tent with her children; Celiara, who was now quite rambunctious and the apple of her father's eye; Saren, a tiny ball of temper; and Desmaren, a quiet child who seemed to only wish no one would see him at all.
It surprised her to see Askari when he showed up, and further shocked her to see Leandra with him, and still drove her into confusion to see their boy Heiyu. They needed a place to live. Claire's stomach turned. Ruthivan would not be pleased.
Though she had chosen to stay with him of her own will, Claire never felt free. Ruthivan dictated so much of her life - from what robes she chose to wear, what time she could take a walk, what foods she ought to feed the children. She didn't even know how Matinus was doing, she wasn't permitted to visit. The last time Mirin had contacted her, Claire found Ruthivan glaring at her, having intercepted every word. Reluctantly, she had closed communications. She couldn't go far enough to escape any detection. Ruthivan kept his eye on her constantly.
The only thing Claire had managed successfully was to get rid of her womb. Ruthivan had gone to her father, Eladrim, to once again plead their case for acceptance back into the group. It was her one chance, and she took it. Ruthivan could not figure out why she was no longer getting pregnant, and knowing that he would "look," Claire had even put a mock uterus in place. No matter what he wanted, she would not continue to be an esper factory.
Claire let Askari and Leandra set up a tent behind her own and set herself to deal with Ruthivan's ire. Not only was she not getting pregnant, but now they would have their son living with his non-esper wife and "half-breed" child. Ruthivan walked into the room and Claire cleared her throat.
