Dragoncrest Cliffs Alfonsino

Meerkat listened to him and allowed him to feel his anger, saying that Njord hadn’t intended to hurt any of them. She said that it did not absolve him. Swordfish wished he hadn’t said anything. It didn’t feel right that he should express these things to his mom. She had gone so long on her own. It felt selfish and cruel for him to place this burden on her.

Ma…

The boy looked to her with sadness in his eyes.

I don’t need him to be tryin’. I can see he’s tryin’… That wasn’t the issue, for Swordfish. It was more complicated than all of that. He wasn’t sure how he might best put it into words for his mom. The situation felt heavier than he could manage. I dunno, ma. It’s different fer ya. Cause ya love him. And ya know him good ‘nuff to love him.

Swordfish turned his face away from her. His lips became thin as his eyes fixated on something in the distance.

But I dunno him. He’s my da but… he’s a stranger to me. How could he love a man he didn’t even know?