"I know," Sorin said with his own sadness in his voice. He stroked her hair, kissed her head, stroked her hair some more and smoothing the wild flyaway pieces down with his touch. "She is a stranger to us. Is difficult with Bayani in a different House. We do not see or know who all his friends are. Remember, after we left Anton and he decided to go back to his family instead of continue with us to the school like the wizard wanted?" Sorin spoke steadily, hoping to help calm her down some more as well as sort through his own angry feelings. "It is the same here. He is back, but he is still detached and it is hard for us to accept, us who are much more used to being together."
It was a reasonable explanation, Sorin supposed. Still, Bayani didn't have to take it out on Ellie.
Sorin blinked and then winced at the name Ellie said she called Victoria. "Ellie..." he scolded gently, catching her chin to tip her head up. "We do not know her. We cannot judge her. We can only be patient. Maybe she will want to get to know us." That is, if Bayani didn't burn all his bridges with them first.