Arrow Lake rivers and roads

<333!

that was all. in his heart, mahler begged ruenna to turn away, to find solace in her newfound liri, for as the moments ticked by, he could scarcely stand to be near her. the touch of her soft gaze engendered a deep guilt in the shadowpriest, for he could not return it, nor look at stigmata. a poor leader indeed, a weak brother. had he been worthwhile at all, mahler might have sought to mediate between the pair, urging the stonewolf to take up ruenna's offer, to end the possibility of conflict between them now and forever.
but he could scarcely breathe, let alone speak, the crush of her soon-to-depart presence gathering 'round his throat like a proverbial millstone. stigmata looked to him then, and only out of allegiance did mahler return the glance, remaining mute as the silverchased general opted to give his word later, and dismissed ruenna with a grudging peace.
mahler did not watch her go, though despite himself, his senses drank in the sound of her retreating footsteps until they were lost to sound. only then did he clear his throat, a clear anguish he could no longer veil settling like a shroud across his dark features, and surely visible to stigmata.
"brother," and the strain of his voice made it unrecognizable even to his own ears, "the choice is yours. i fear my ability to be unbiased in this matter is compromised." a failure; the gargoyle wilted. he would support stigmata in whatever outcome the ironstar foresaw for the vale, but the horrid little flame in his chest countered al logic mahler attempted to grant in this moment.