Lethe's reign had been short-lived (and he mentally balked as this morbid pun popped in to his mind) with Fox taking over swiftly after. He could have taken the creek at that point. Maybe things would have been different - the Sunspire wouldn't exist, the children would be safe, and moving would be far from his mind. But he hadn't taken power. He had let it go, and supported the child who called themselves the leader. That could have been his biggest mistake, but there was no way of knowing. Njal couldn't turn back time or change what had already happened. Apparently he was becoming very introspective in his old age.
So deep in thought was the usually-mindless warden, that when a voice rose up from nearby, he was startled. At first Njal thought the monument was speaking to him - as if Lethe could sense his guilt from beyond the grave and now, attracted to it, was suddenly present. A fleeting glance towards the verdant burial mound transitioned away from it - to the face of a stranger who was far more alive. He felt a little stupid, but said nothing. You're Njal, right? I'm Kaskara.
The girl questioned, and he gave a slow nod. It seemed as if the departure of the Sveijarn family had granted them a temporary infamy.
He looked her over quickly, noticing the darkness of her pelt and, briefly, looking at her two-toned eyes. Curious. But his mind was filled with other things. I have not seen you around the creek before,
he muttered, trying to be friendly with his conversation, but it was clear by the tone that his heart wasn't in it. Something weighed upon him, distracted him. It is nice to see that Swiftcurrent is still an attractive place to live.. Especially after all the turmoil lately.