Phoenix Maplewood entschlossen

that the boy had disappeared after the heavy words mahler had given was not something that escaped the leader. as praimfaya spoke, the gargoyle listened, though once more he was seeking movement in the smears of grey beneath the naked branches, looking for astraeus and his long lope through their tanglework.
"small," was what he had offered. as the girl turned toward the tongue of her own land, mahler refocused upon her with a nod. "rivenvood now." the constant mention of sagtannet grated upon the shadowpriest; she had no way of knowing what had happened.
and though he thought it foolish to tell her, mahler spoke the name aloud for the first time. it dissolved like manna in his mouth, a vanishing ghost of sweet that edged a bit of pain from his heart. 
where was she? 
his soul begged but mahler would not heed. 
"the voman who leads, arbiter. she is alone vith children, i believe, though this must be confirmed. she is somevone who vants to be compensated properly for her land." 
gaze shifting to praimfaya. "it vould make a good outpost for a canny leader."