darkly, darkly

"headaches? are they the sort that are incapacitating? i know she is interested in healing, and skilled, but perhaps she would benefit from blue willow's consultation," the man suggested gently. the talk of his children warmed his heart; he smiled at mordecai, with more genuine delight upon his face than he had felt in quite some time. "eilidh has the heart and eyes for tracking; she is skilled for her small age. constantine is the brute strength, but his cunning tempers his power. casmir is smaller, but nimble and quick. they complement one another well. i think they will do well in a hunt if they communicate their intentions."

"do you intend to have children, mordecai?" lasher asked after a moment; it was an extended feather, made to play at the edges of the question he was too polite to ask outright.