Noctisardor Bypass einweichen

To Mahler's credit, he reacted with more grace than he ought to, given how obvious it was that Wylla simply did not care about his returned daughter. No doubt he was filled with relief to know she was alive, and was incredibly happy to have her back with him — surely anyone who truly loved him would share in his feelings, for his sake, if no other reason — but Wylla despised the Ostregas more than she loved Mahler, even Ciri and Elke, who had never done anything wrong, and could find only dread in his relief, for it was only a matter of time before she once again would be set aside.

She would never tell him that, and she hoped she would never have to come close to it, either. If Mahler was wise, he would understand and respect that nothing would ever bridge the gap between his two families, and informing Wylla of Ciri was only so that she would not grow angry if they ever came face to face. She hoped it was not a misguided effort to start bringing the two together, but only time would tell. Mahler would find that Wylla could chastise him for a great many things, if she wanted to.

She had nothing much to say about it now, however, and luckily, Mahler changed the subject to a walk. She moved as though to accompany him, but paused abruptly with a smirk when he indicated she wanted her on his arm. Don't think your arm can handle it, she quipped, since you're so old and all, it might break under the pressure.

Yet she did, with a little hesitation that she felt somewhat guilty for — none of this could last, she was sure of it, and what if the returned Ciri happened upon them — press her shoulder to his gingerly to step alongside him, trying to enjoy the moment as it happened and ignore all the paranoid fluttering of her thoughts.