Jill’s voice was enough to shake Seda from her thoughts, curse filled recriminations that they were, and had her twisting round to face the woman. Idly curling a lock of hair around one slim digit, eyes darting between horse and rider, she let out a low sigh and nodded. “Yes, a halla. They are somewhat similar. Four legs. Hooves. But,” her voice faded away to nothing as she turned to face Salma, bowing awkwardly in place, an apologetic smile plastered across her lips. “You are very lovely but the halla are even more so. They are very graceful. Ethereal.”
Picking at her piece of sweetbread, crumbs scattering across her lap, her body drew in on itself. Nervous eyes landed on Jill before retreating soon after. She had seemed genuinely clueless about the halla and what Seda’s relationship with them implied so it should be safe to tell her more about them. Chewing at the inside if her cheek, one hand rising to stroke Salma’s nose, she decided she might as well just continue talking. She had already said more than enough to incriminate herself already, saying more couldn’t make things any worse.
Uncertainty still emblazoned on her face she turned back to look at Jill. “I suppose they are more comparable to deer. At least in terms of their build. They all have antlers which are carved as they grow. Once, long ago, knights,” the closest word that still existed for the elvhen riders of old, “used to ride them. Not anymore, though, I don’t think. Not that I ever saw at least.”
The apple crunched as she bit into it once more, juice splattering across her face. Offering up another piece she stared at Salma somewhat sadly. “I think they would have liked you. There were no horses around for them to meet but they were sweet, friendly.” Voice dropping to a whisper she leaned in close to the horse, mouth resting against Salma’s coat. “If you ever meet one you must say hello for me. Tell them I miss them. Please.”