Dragoncrest Cliffs partita

Ashlar's guilt was primarily aimed inward, and if he'd known it threatened to add to hers by proxy, it would have only compounded. By now he had decided that, simply by giving them away, he had no right to them. She chose not to blame him but she wouldn't be wrong if she did. Would Theo be unhappy if he was there to help? Would the bird have come if she was not looking after four on her own?

While he helped Avicus to raise hers. She should blame him entirely.

But instead she thanked him for finding them. He gave a small, glad wave of his tail, but the wave of guilt he felt for it all couldn't be surmounted by only this. He didn't want to ruin their moment with it, not after everything. She hadn't commented on his offer to Theo, but instead spoke of coming. He nodded, then swallowed in preparation.

I'd like you to come, all of you. But I think, if it's okay... Theo would want to stay for a while. He wants to learn things that we can teach there, and I'd.... I could help. He'd be safe, and he would still be yours. Just.... for a while. He could be a student. Ashlar waited to see what she might think, because he had told Theo he would ask and he owed it to the boy to try. He would hate to have her arrive and expect him to explain instead.