Blackfeather Woods Breached her sanctuary

She listened carefully to Miraak, barely noticing her brother's retreat into the trees. Her mouth curved in the first smile she'd ever give her uncle, ears twitching in fascination. All his words--bright, intelligent, wise. . .magic--settled firmly into her head, added to her burgeoning collection of Meldresi lore.

"Cool," Maegi responded, the word wholly inadequate for what she was feeling. Had she known the words awe or riveting, she might have used those; as it was, her vocabulary was limited by her youth.

"So where have you been?" she asked, her tone not particularly accusing or hostile. She wondered if he had stayed away because everyone else had, or if he truly had been absent and was just now returning to an active life in the Woods.