Altar of Twilight andächtig

mahler was fraught for a tense moment with irritation. why did nyx press when he knew her mind was capable of gathering what had gone on? he stopped, leant his broad shoulder against a snow-covered breadth of stone extending from the ground. back to her; he breathed, turned until his profile was once more visible.
"three left us in vone night. only those loyal to me and the children remained. i led them all elsevhere for the vinter." rote, clipped, informative. she need not ask more, only tell him whether or not she found his suggestion acceptable.
vaguely mahler knew his thoughts were unfair, but exhaustion and pain had knotted along each vertebrae.
he did not look at her again, only returned to his track through the snow, pausing if nyx did not follow.