Beside the Lake, after dark, open to all.

[ash_imperfect]

Asher walks the edge of the darkened lake, brooding and hurt. His room - or at least his furniture, and most particularly his bed - is no more than matchsticks, the victim of rage that had overwhelmed him when Nathaniel had walked out the door. Mania past, Asher was left feeling weak, broken, and unable to think about staying in his room. The

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[by_matchlight]

There's the small figure of a child slipping out of the treeline, a towel wrapped around her in place of a shawl.

She'd lost track of the time swimming and picking berries in the woods (and oh how delicious they were!). Hopefully she won't be scolded for staying out after dark. If she hurries, they might not even notice...

She almost doesn't see the man in black until she nearly runs into him.

"OH! I am so sorry, sir," she gasps.

[ash_imperfect]

Asher's head jerks up, so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even heard her approach.

"No need to apologise," he mutters, turning back to the lake.

[by_matchlight]

He looks odd, but she tries not to stare. Like an angel. Only with long hair. Long, loose hair. Hmmm...he must have lost his ribbon to tie it back with.

A sudden thought sends her fishing through the pocket of her apron, and then she looks to the man. When he doesn't turn to her, she gives his coat a shy tug.

"Sir? If you lost your hair ribbon, you may have mine," she says quietly, holding out a small bit of red ribbon.

[ash_imperfect]

Asher turns to look at the small girl, arching an eyebrow at the ribbon.

"Non, merci," He mutters, looking around for the girl's parents or guardian. Finding none, he sighs, looking back down at the girl.

"Where are your parents, petit?"

[by_matchlight]

She doesn't catch everything he's said, but it sounded like a no. Silly man to wear his hair down....someone might think he was a lady!

"Mother and Father are home. Grandmother sent me here to stay, and Prince Brísi says that Mother and Father will not be worried and that I should stay here for awhile."

She grins. "I have learned so much here and Mother and Father will be so proud! I even learned needlework."

A little, even if her stitches are a bit crooked.

[ash_imperfect]

Asher crouches down in front of her.

"And who looks after you here?" He frowns, looking around again. He is not in the mood for dealing with runaway children.

[by_matchlight]

"I stay with Miss Svava and Mister Ah-Chee (which is still handwaved, despite these pups being MIA for years). I have my own bed."

This is something to brag of, at least in her mind.

Though bragging is not becoming of little girls.

...but her own bed!

"And sometimes Bísi looks after me." She'd had a cot with Miss Khemrys for studies, but she had left a long time ago.

[ash_imperfect]

"Then perhaps you should return to one of them." Asher is unfamiliar with their names, and he does not care to find out.

[by_matchlight]

She gives a small pout. "They will tell me it is time for sleeping, but I am not sleepy!"

She covers her mouth, realising with horror that she's complaining about the people who have been so kind to her.

"I do not mean to be ungrateful, but I like to be up. I do not get to come out at night often, because Brísi and Uncle Jason say it is not safe to be alone outside."

But she's not alone right now!

[ash_imperfect]

"And they are right." Asher mutters, gritting his teeth against a snarl of frustration. He never liked children, even when he was one himself. And today of all days, to be bothered by one...

"Did they not also tell you never to speak to strangers?"

[by_matchlight]

She frowns. What an odd thing to say...how could she make a living if she were not to speak to strangers? She simply was not to go into their homes or carriages.

"No, sir. Why should I not?"

[ash_imperfect]

Asher smiles, widely, his fangs very much visible, his ice-blue eyes cold and dark.

[by_matchlight]

Her eyes widen until they're near bugging out from her head. She's heard enough stories from her Grandmother of demons who roam the night looking to devour small children.

She gives a piercing scream and runs for the Bar.