"I see," Kalram said, unsure how he was supposed to feel about a place he barely remembered, "Father said that if the Coalition of Elven Nations continued to engage in senseless war, something like that was bound to happen."  Kalram suddenly realized how callous he must have sounded, "I-I mean...I-I'm sorry to hear that.  It must have been tough, losing your...home.  I don't know how I'd feel if Soren was attacked."

[hr]
"Oh," Reas said, seeming suddenly a lot less interested, "I thought you'd tell me that someone in the village gave them to you as a symbol of their undying love or something."  This statement came out a bit unusual, given it was intended to be humor, but was delivered in Reas' usual stoic monotone.  While expressing very little emotion zirself, Reas was interested, some would say unhealthily so, in the emotions of others; love, in particular, was something ze wished to observe, to dissect, often to the chagrin and discomfort of the ones ze was observing.