Redsand Canyon Mellontikós

crowfeather filled his mind and he was hard-put not to find himself distracted during this important discourse. 

the third and unuttered truth was that the eagle would not know what to do if he had the young ranger and ruenna both beneath his eye. his marriage to her might well be seen as a betrayal. there would be strife.

and the imperator had put down the snarl of complicated and unheard emotions the day that he departed akashingo. to bring crowfeather here would be to reopen them again.

he was selfish. but the shadow represented an undoing that germanicus had conquered in himself.

"that is a fine idea, greek. i will take all you send. my children will be reared in mereo as soldiers, and the opportunity is open to any born in the vale. i will send mine to you when they are of age, to be fully immersed in great thinking."

there was anticipation beneath his breast. it almost sundered the clawing in his gut when he thought of crowfeather's stricken face.