He can see the confusion on the child (is that even what he is or has he borrowed this face, too?) The boy is looking up at him and the dark deepens the lines on Tarian’s normally stoic face. If there had been more fear, it might have caused the silver pegasus to react differently.
While studying the colt, he thinks how many times he has seen the variation of this emotion on so many faces, in so many places. The way that he looks up to him - like Tarian would have addressed anyone else in this dark copse of forest, like his sure-footed steps would have been intended for anyone other than this pretender! - oddly tempers his anger.
Tarian schools himself into impassivity. Physically, he is bigger than the galaxy-marked colt. His gray wings ruffle at his sides and they fall into a position of attention, ready to be unfurled if the former Knight should have need of them. The colt is clearly confused; however (there is always a however with him; always a word of caution with Tarian) it has happened before to him.
Somebody who feigns unknowing. Somebody who uses the emotion to try and wipe away the doubt that had been something there at all. His blue eyes study the galaxies that should be in the sky and find themselves instead on the lean shoulders of Isakov.
"Are you of the stars, Isakov?” Tarian asks and there is no uncertainty when he says the boy’s name. There should be no doubt in a name. He doesn’t offer his own yet, because he asks (accuses): "Because you borrowed the shine of one and you are not her.”
Though much is taken, much abides; and though we are not now that strength
which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.
@[isakov]