Two Rivers Isle Last night I smoked a cigarette

Ulrich could not help laughing in surprise at Goliad's assumption about himself and Adylaide. A betrothal? he repeated, incredulously. Hardly. No, Adylaide was... my charge. I was her bodyguard, sworn to protect her with my life from the moment she was born. I watched over her as she grew up and... He hesitated. This felt too much like spilling his wife's heart to a stranger.

Clearing his throat, he moved on. Well. Something... terrible happened, back where we came from, and we had to leave quickly or we would have been killed. We wandered the wilds for a month or so before coming upon this place. I... I wanted to be as far from others as possible. I did not trust other wolves--I still don't, entirely--so I moved us here, to the Isle. The two rivers around this land act as a natural barrier to anyone wishing us harm. And I thought it might look beautiful in the spring. He smiled gently. Adylaide likes pretty things.