User blog comment:Doctor Ibrahim/Ask the Doc and his Family!/@comment-25808351-20180124030225/@comment-28358106-20180208050918

As Tirush and Adelhard leave the room, before anyone can say anything, Marcus is aware of a presence next to his chair. Without saying a word (or waiting for permission) Partha, on all fours, circles around to the front of his chair and, glancing up at him for only a moment, lays her head on his lap expectantly.

Tirush leads Adelhard to the rear landing, a stone area with a stone balustrade encircling the whole thing. Beyond and below is the flower garden, a mere maze of browns and grays in this winter weather. Tirush walks up to the balustrade and simply steps atop it, turning around and perching on it at a crouch. She speaks as she makes herself comfortable.

"Sit or stand, as it please you.  This will not take long." She settles into her position.

Her eyes rest on him for several seconds before she speaks. They don't bore into him, like Marcus, or Judge him, like Thomas. They seem to be looking at something else entirely.

"Why did you look down when I spoke of your many tastes, your fruits?"