Bearclaw Valley goldclaw

There was a small boost to his confidence when Merrick complimented him, more-so out of surprise than anything else. Karst still wasn't sure it was the right answer or even one that made sense, but it satisfied the man, so he relaxed a touch.

He was offering to take him out of the territory; a trip, which made Karst wonder many things. The last time the boy had been out there he'd been hunting for Astyanax. His brother was gone now. Whether he had died or merely abandoned Karst, the boy saw it as the same thing in the end: a loss not worth thinking about.

Yet he thought of him now. Had Merrick found him? Oh, but he mentioned Ashlar — and immediately Karst bristled.

What do you think of the red girl? he went on to ask. Karst's bristling did not abate.

The princess was not a kind creature. Too often the boy was subjected to her antagonistic behavior, broken down by her efforts. He was slower to answer this question due to an innate fear of Merrick; the man was king here, the red girl his protégé.

Mean. He finally answers; his tone lacking depth, his eyes down-cast and distracted.