An eyebrow raised, and he gulped, words cut off. The human woman sitting cross-legged on the table waited a moment, brow still arched, her hands busy braiding a lock of her curly silvering hair.
“Why are you alone?” she said then, voice light. “And why are the witches surrounding you?”
“Because they’re all witches! And they killed everyone I was with.”
“Then,” the woman said as she pulled an errant thread from her green robe and used it to tie up the braid. “Do you think the Green Goddess would want you to defend yourself?” Her hands lower. “Peace cannot be taught, Veriel. You have been with us for many years; I am quite sure you can decide for yourself what would honour her purpose. And yours.”
“B-but how do I know?”
“Eldath guides us to find the path of peace, but she would not wish for us to give up on our lives out of fear of violence.”
He ducked his chin, kicking feet stilling. “I don’t want to hurt anyone… ever.”
“I know.” She stretched her palms out to him, waiting until he placed his hands on hers. “I will always be honest with you. There are paths that surely do avoid all violence; you know what they are. But there are also paths which skirt very close to danger and suffering, and travelling the land alone is one of those. As much as you can aid others… so you will witness much pain.”
Veriel’s chin lifted once more, and he squeezed her hands. “Do you really think I’m ready to go?”
“No,” she replied, serene. “But that is what you wish, and we will not halt you.”
“Oh...”