Emberflame Ridge schneemusik

the boy seemed to have lost a goodly bit of his fear, and mahler felt a glissade of regret for having chased mali as he did. but perhaps they would not have come to this point, had he not forced their meeting. therefore, the gargoyle would not hold enmity against himself for it.
"that is for you to decide. trust is not freely given. it is earned. make the ones you follow next earn your respect, mali," mahler intoned, standing to his feet and glancing over his shoulder to the nearby distance, where a flock of eager ravens had descended to pick gleefully over the sheep's carcass.
"i vill leave that for you. and for your sister," mahler added, jerking his head toward the kill. if mali had nothing to add, the shadowpriest would begin his trudge into the shivering pines along the ridge, moving in the direction of diaspora.