[Bren stepped up on the dais as indicated. This was a first for him, and he couldn't help a surge of self consciousness. He really had arrived in a state of complete disarray and filth, and that at least had been addressed. But Essek Thelyss lived in a world that Bren had never come close to, even before Trent had found him, and certainly even farther away since then.

But Essek had not treated him as anything but welcome here. Knowing now that he was the incarnation of his late lover's soul, well that certainly was a reason. But Essek still treated him as the person that he was now, not who he had been in another life time. Bren desperately wanted to ease some of that pain that ran so deep in those eyes, to soothe away that grief that he wore like a mantle.

The explanation of the house's title had him smiling.]

You carved out a Den of your own. I see.

[And even now, this place was filled with good, kind people. Bren had met several of them already.

He couldn't stop himself from reaching out then, fingers touching along Essek's cheek.]

Thank you again, for allowing me to stay here. It's been a long time since I've felt truly safe.