Bearclaw Valley apertivo

each ministration hurt. val kept his lips taut and shut, lest the herbalist rebuke him again. the more time he spent with her, the more timid he became - for she seemed a woman of great experience and knowledge.

his shoulders sagged as she spoke of running. merrick didn’t run. aventus and arielle didn’t run. he born by the sea, they born by the bear — every last interaction keenly brought that to light. but stryx was not like them; she was like him — and that gave the boy great confidence in himself. i’m done running. val remarked petulantly, reminded of the time he’d fled the cliffs. it only ever made things worse. i ran once, from sapphique — and now look at me.