The young woman wasn’t even sure why she was blushing. Mentally, she chastised herself. It wasn’t as if anything inappropriate had gone on. It wasn’t even as if she’d never seen Verial shirtless. While she couldn’t recall any specific examples, she knew that he and Angelus had practiced their weaponry and sparring out of doors in the hot, summer sun on more than one occasion while she was in attendance. Of course, she’d likely been writing, which meant that she’d probably not paid all that much attention, but still…

This mental chastisement didn’t do much for that blush of hers, but she had always been a bit on the shy side. She was glad when he started speaking, even if apprehension had her pretty mouth—which was looking a good deal less chapped—curving downward slightly at the corners. “Well, something needs to be done…” She allowed. “As long as we take the proper precautions.”

It occurred to her that he was staring, and her eyebrows knitted together as she tried to cast a subtle glance at what she could see of her appearance. A hand wandered up into her hair to make some mild attempt to tame her curls, and it wandered down after that to find the exposed shoulder. Neither seemed so bad, and she self consciously ran her tongue over her teeth.

Kyrian. She’d almost forgotten that they weren’t the only ones in the cottage. She found that she was both worried and excited to see the boy that she had doted over during his younger years near the time she’d lost her own unborn child. “That would be lovely…” She didn’t know what sort of questions he might have if he even remembered her at all, and she was still worried about that magic…

Verial ducked out of the room, leaving her alone, and she finally moved to get out of the bed. Her feet touched the cool floorboards, but she made herself get up. She was a bit shaky. Every once in a while, there was a slight tremor that seemed to run along her spine, as if the magic were seeking some new release, but all in all, it seemed manageable.

She found the overdress that had been borrowed from Maiwen. It was made of a lovely, soft wool that was a shade of deep blue with sleeves that widened into a wide bell shape to show the cranberry lining that matched the shift underneath. There was gold embroidery resembling vines over the low collar, but it was otherwise free of embellishment. It suited Aursra, who had always had fairly simple tastes.

She found a small mirror, and took a moment to glance at her reflection. Fingers ran through her hair, but she was surprised to see that she looked surprisingly presentable, and it wasn’t just her hair. She was still too thin—only real sustenance could change that entirely, but she seemed less gaunt than before somehow; features softened a bit. Whether it was an allusion of her own magic or had more to do with the concoction Sorvynia had insisted she drink down, she didn’t know, but she was glad that she didn’t feel quite as much as if she were gazing at a stranger in the mirror.

She opened the bedroom door, and she inhaled the scent of food. Gods, but it smelled wonderful. Following her nose, she made her way down the stairs. She had to grasp a bit more tightly to the rail when taking the stairs than she would have preferred to admit, but there was a marked improvement. There was a moment of hesitation as she paused in the entryway, watching father and son… took in all of the food, which had her stomach making a soft growl.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room proper, offering her nephew (How he’d grown!) a timid smile. “Hello Kyrian… I know it’s a bit unexpected, but hopefully you don’t mind the visit?”

She glanced to Verial, including him in the smile. “Someone has prepared a veritable feast!”