A distant voice… In these sands? He couldn’t think of a reason someone around here would so readily raise their voice aside from someone giving orders or reports. Did they even belong to them? Whipping his head from the group he was following, he slowed the black stallion he was riding and narrowed his eyes to get a better view of what was in front of him due to the bright sunlight bouncing off the sand. It was clear that this person - this woman? - was precisely speaking to him, going so far to ask his identity. He didn’t see much need to be highly cautious of her despite that she carried weapons by her side. Didn’t look like somebody to be reckoned with either.
“Aless, the “Black Knight”. One would know me best as Eltshan’s son.”
It wasn’t until after he said his piece that he felt… some strange sort of connection to the blonde horse rider. The striking hair color resemblance that they shared aside, there was some slight pang of familiarity with her voice… Pinpointing it was much more difficult than expected. Where… Where had he heard it? Normally, he’d remember appearances over names and voices, but the longer he stared, the more it was making him clueless about the vague recognization. Was it just all in his mind then? It couldn’t hurt to ask in return, he supposed.
“Though… If I may ask the same… Who are you?” It probably wasn’t like an ideal mercenary to let uncertainty slip into their tone, but it wasn’t on his present mind to keep up that role.
“You’re... Aless?” Her eyes continued to run, involuntarily, over every detail of his face and figure, as though in disbelief. Meanwhile, her mind was in turmoil. Of course. What could she possibly have been thinking? Eltshan coming back to life? Ridiculous. She couldn’t help but chastise herself for that childish, fantasy-ridden thought, as she forced herself to focus on the boy’s face. It was just so much alike...
But no, this was her long lost nephew. She should be happy to find him, shouldn’t she? He was Eltshan’s legacy, the successor to the major Hezul blood, to Mistoltin. He was also family, someone whose safety she should’ve placed on a high priority. And of course, I did just as well with him as I did with the rest of my family, Lachesis thought to herself bitterly, before shaking her head. This wasn’t time to dwell on her failures, not when Aless was sitting right before her and she was on her way to meet Fin and Nanna and Leaf. She’ll have time for guilt later on.
She drew herself up, now fixing him with a steady look. “I am Lachesis, princess of Nodion... and the younger sister of my Lord Brother Elto... Eltshan.” Somewhere in the back of her mind, Lachesis registered that those words didn’t bring nearly as much pain or regret as they used to, when she was a child. “That would make you, Aless, my nephew.”