Stone Circle Insight I

Valette was a good listener. Part of him was still thankful that he hadn't needed to properly meet Siarut at the border. Valette had been very generous, and Taikon had felt nervous about meeting the brother that Taki had so strongly suggested might be... less than pleased to see him. He hoped only that the pack would be able to do something about whoever had pushed Taktuq away and threatened her. He hoped that the threats had been empty, but given Taktuq's traumatized status, he worried if they might have done more than she had originally let on.
He nodded, though he didn't think Mahler deserved any real sympathy, nor Wylla. As far as he was concerned, the both of them had been warmongering idiots, and he was glad to be rid of them, even if it meant a lack of stability. His only regret was that Takiyok had jumped off the sinking ship with him, and now they seemed to be in a ship that didn't know which way was north or south.
Consider me one of those friends, he said easily. He didn't know her well. He didn't need to. I'll talk to the leaders of the Ivory Rose when I get back. It's likely we are too few to spare any fighters to keep Ursus back, but if you and yours ever need a place to rest, I am sure they will be open. It was an easy, albeit empty offer. He was not a leader. He did not get to make those calls.