Dragoncrest Cliffs claw at my walls, i come when you cry

It is the duty of heda to put Drageda before matters of the self.  He almost does not catch the way she smoothly transitions from her leg buckling beneath the weight of their reunion (for too many had been present at the homecoming for it to be so genuine) into a real step towards him.

And then she hardens.  He steels himself — he knows her confusion and hurt is not directed at him, but he doesn't know if he can stomach to see the look on her face sour their conversation.  He wishes he could rewind back to before he'd said anything.  Left, he says, just yesterday.  He didn't know Sequoia had seen Thuringwethil, otherwise he would be even more angry at her than she already was for leaving.  She told me and Silkie and Kiwi we could come with.  I — his words falter.  I didn't want to.  Silkie stayed too.

I'm glad you're home, nomi.