Gilded Bay ebbed and flowed

he knew the pitch well, and flashed ford a rueful smile. commitment--he didn't want to think about that, just yet. particularly not among wolves he barely knew. he had done so with morningside, but that had been a different time. he'd been younger, more trusting. no longer. . .

now, that, i'd be happy to do, govinda spoke again, in reply to the prospect of an alliance. your family has a friend in me, rest assured. i hope that settling the bay comes easy for you all.

winter was coming. why would he not just join up? for all his noble traits, govinda had always been too much of an idealist for his own good. ford's offer was just shy of perfect, and he found himself not willing to settle for anything less. the pursuit of perfection was his folly; it always had been and always would be so.