Ariel held some fingers to her forehead. She was having a hard time shaking the shop from her mind, even with Meesei's question. "Well, I would have to properly train them to make my wares. My formula books are not the most comprehensive things ever written. On top of that, I would have to make up some explanations for suddenly having strangers in the shop and...oh..." she held her eyes shut and took a slow breath through her nose.

"Rukeewei, I, um..." Ariel raised her eyes and her brow to speak to Meesei in a calmer voice. "He has asked about Sabine and the rest of you before. You [i]are[/i] her foster family, so I had not changed that detail. As for why you travel, I believe I told him that Sabine has a condition that makes her unsuited for living within cities. I told him that I would rather not share the details without her permission. He has been respectfully quiet about it since then, though he may ask a few questions."

Ariel sighed and bowed her head. "I just hope his family doesn't think I'm running off from the marriage. On its own, I still don't know how I will explain this to him."

[hr]
Gallus was made still and mildly surprised. He did not know what going out to the root entailed, but if it helped..."I'll do what ever you need me to do," he said with a nod.