Herbalists' Cache das lied von der erde

perhaps he had been wrong, based on her rejoinder. mahler stiffened in surprise, immediately growing reticent in the face of her sharp inquiry, but held himself back from speaking. apple seemed to soften herself, apologizing, granting an explanation. and so the musiker remained wary, but only because she had regained her warmth in a matter of seconds. it was a shift that he did not understand, for he had never been so swift.
four husbands —! mahler wished to ask apple to elaborate on the manner of cravings, but his lilac eyes only blinked in no small amount of consternation as he swiftly categorized the information granted into their proper little mental boxes. "you must be a very special sort of voman that four men vanted you as a mate."
too late he realized how that might have been taken; he considered that nanny apple would mistake him for inviting her into a fifth mateship. or there was a chance he had overthought the entire interaction; at any rate, mahler lowered his head sheepishly and queried, "vhat sort of cravings did you have, frau?"