Moonspear makaik ⧎

It has never been a home to me, he snapped back before he could help himself. Her fervent gaze met the shard of gold set in his glare, but he did not say anything else, listening to her promise.

She would wait? And what of him, waiting all this time, working the land, trying to earn her trust and his rightful place? She would wait for him? He had done all the waiting; he had done all the work, while she sat back and slept! It was jarring to hear her say this so easily, so flippantly.

You will forget. He intoned with a scowl. In time you will find someone to keep company in your ulaq. Perhaps she had already; he was done, though. Burned by her denial with the leftover ashes trampled by the dark embrace of another. Cast in to the wind to be forgotten.

Raimo did not want to admit how right she was. That in the coming days he would think of her and pine. That the sight of any mountain ledge would bring to mind thoughts of her body, or the wind might whisper to him with her voice.

Sullenly he turned and began to stalk away from her, falling easily in to the shadow of the ruined mountain trails, where he was enveloped completely.