Blackfeather Woods So what do you want from me

As she fell silent he followed after, searching her expression for something that might make her thoughts obvious, but found nothing. He considered asking her directly, taking the silence as an opportunity to pry into things, only to think better of it before continuing. He took a step towards her instead, closing the distance without touching her, and offered what support he could. “He’s gone, but there are still others here that are not,” he told her. “And with his departure, this land has become mine.” Though, in a way, it had always been his. Not to lead, that was new, but to protect—and he would continue to do that, up until the day he died.

“There won’t be another war,” he continued, an attempt at reassuring her made. “And if there is, you can leave. No one will expect you to fight for those you do not know, not again.” He certainly wouldn’t.