The Heartwood the dark half

vuk watched seff with a growing sense of worry as he prostrated himself before this potema. she glanced between the pair of them, tense but unwilling to assert herself unless it was necessary. the pale, fierce warrior seemed to love seff, and while she was hurt by potema's words, she was not going to deny them.

seff's words sounded and vuk felt relief flood her -- she looked to the savage face of the warrior who had kissed her son. "t-thank y-you," she murmured. "i h-have b-been s-searching f-for a  ... l-long t-time," she added quietly, gesturing seff to her side. she wanted nothing more to be home and in terich's arms, reunited with her family.

then she could grieve.