Rattleskin Redoubt mandatum

valiria, a woman who had not seen a girlish day in her life.

germanicus felt keenly the sting of that particular disappointment, though he could not experience its loss on her behalf.

"i remarried after your mother left with all of you," he said quietly. "you were too young to recall perhaps, but she did not intend to return, and ended our marriage that day."

and so he had not waited in vain hope.

he had not waited at all.

"it was too hasty and i was not honest with who i have become. when that relationship ended, so did mereo. i did not return to the sunspire for a long time."

no excuses. only an explanation.