So Young Yet So Bright

Anger flooded his system at the words that she offered, but the swarthy sea wolf knew that he had no right to be as upset as he was. Ishild was always a transparent figure when it came to the things that she desired most, and he was certain that – if it had been Ksenia to find her first – she would have offered the same exchange to their pale sister.
 
It was the way of the Cairn wolves to desire that which they did not have: power. Just as Skellige thirsted for it on the islands of their home, Ishild was hoping to make an exchange of information for it in the Teekon Wilds. The only difference was that he was not certain that he wanted to offer such things to his ink-masked sibling. It wasn’t that she was untrustworthy… though, she was about as savage as any of the others. The hesitancy came from the idea that Ishild enjoyed playing the field. If Ksenia were to offer the girl a higher payout than what Skellige could give her, he knew that the younger Cairn would turn to his pale sister and grant her whatever it was that she asked. The thought of it caused his skin to prick with frustration and rage. How was it that his sisters had turned into such foul and twisted creatures? There was no wonder why the leadership in Warsaw had been designated for Ksenia.
 
At last, a snort fell from his nares and he turned to lock his gaze with her own. “I will not grant you this,” he began with a cold clip in his voice. “Not until you return with information that is worthy of what you ask.” It left their agreement open and it allowed for the girl to work at acquiring what he needed without the pressure of having to join into his pack as it was rising. If she should return to him with all that he should need to take down Ksenia, then he would grant her power within his ranks.
 
If their agreement should go sour, Skellige realized that he could be faced with the idea of killing Ishild and allowing the sea to carry her home.