[ well, he can't say that he was expecting that. eventually, maybe. but today? surprise, surprise. he tips his head at the message on his locket, snapping it shut and tapping it against the heavy oak of his desk. he's surrounded in his work, books and manuscripts, relics collected and those of his own making, and he chuckles lowly in their company. ]

Perhaps I should bring a few balloons and a cake in celebration ...

[ he says to his imps, possibly, or himself. he doesn't linger long, he raises with a stretch, testing the flexibility in his elbows and knees. when he finds it satisfactory, he moves for his coat, slinging it over his shoulder. ]

"Congratulations on the children"? No, that sounds terrible. "For the children"? Ah ...

[ there's a murmur in an old language and a snap of his fingers and he's off. it takes hardly any effort to find her, between tracking spells and the ease inwhich he teleported, he flickered through the peaks until he saw the shadow of one of them. he appears around one of grander rock formations in the mountain pass. he figures they'll sniff him out, but he knows that both his scent and his presence are most likely more than foreign to them. well, it's time to see if it gets him eaten. ]