Redtail Rise lines on ale

As the singer sang, he was too caught in the song to notice her reaction until he had stopped and, after a moment of silence, finally looked. He'd hoped the song would make her feel glad, but he'd never expected it to get the reaction that he saw. It was good for music to strike strong, but it was hard to see that he'd brought this about. He couldn't help regretting it.

Sorry, he said softly. Avicus didn't seem upset with him but that didn't mean he had the right to speak of her family the way he had.

He hadn't understood, but she was trying to make him. That's what he took her words to be. She blamed herself for the Raven, but it was others who had done it. And even though Ashlar knew what he knew of them, of both of her parents, and even of her, he felt a powerful and sudden flicker of anger on her behalf. He'd never seen her like this and he didn't like it. He didn't like that they'd done this.

There was evil in the world. Maybe Ursus had been part of it. But maybe these other wolves were part of it too.

I know, he said, taking a hesitant step forward. If she let him, he'd clear the tracks the tears had made. It wasn't you. It was them. For the first time, he isn't only dodging thoughts of the outcome. He understands.