Verdigris Ravine if we lose our touch, it won’t mean much

Ephraim's lips pressed into a terse line, but he let Qiao's unspoken admission go without comment. Of course she had attempted to scry before. It explained why an occasional chill came over him even when he was alone, at times even while he was asleep. The jaws of the taotaomona hanging over him, no doubt.

What Qiao sought was not something Ephraim was willing to share, but he was careful to mask the glint of deceit from his face, knowing there was a chance she would see through him anyway. Had a ma, had a pa, some siblings, but didn't know any of them. I got separated from them young and was raised in a pack of warriors. Whackadoodle fanatics, most of them. The only fond memories he had these days were of Tux.

There was a war, but I saw no benefit to risking my neck, so I left in all the chaos. I was on my own after that, right up until I found you. Reunited with my sister somewhere in there, but it was brief. Nothing much in common besides blood. No mention of Caiaphas or the grotto. No hint of anything sinister having happened in his life, or the lives of his family. His past was his own to bear, and he was loathe to share it with anyone. Those wolves who raised me, they believed in some strange things. Lifelong loyalty or a price on your head. Reincarnation, but only for the vaunted commander. Could be she thirsts for vengeance even in death.