Nova Peak It's like an apple of temptation

Taikon was glad to see her in this state of brightness. Her smile was cool and beautiful. She had a northern way about her that would have made any man worth his salt weak at the knees. Taikon saw her only as the incredible woman she was — he did not feel nervous or strange around her.
Takiyok had referred to the person he assumed had been her mate only as "Ego's father." He didn't understand the relationship there and assumed that it caused her pain based on the way that she had mentioned him. She must have had children quite young, for the woman before him was wise but not old. Her children had reached adulthood.
For a very brief moment, the prince wondered what might have happened if his children had been allowed to live. The thought felt dark and so he abandoned it, pushing it out of his mind.
It's hard to lose a parent, he said, though he really meant it is hard to lose someone you love. He was curious about the boy. He wondered what a child of such a powerful woman might be like. What... what would you like to see for him? You know, what should he get from Sagtannet? He asked her. It was a bit of a difficult question, he knew. Surely, she had high expectations of her sons. Taikon made a point to meet this boy. He wanted to know at least that he was good and respected his mother. He wasn't sure how to measure otherwise.