Rattleskin Redoubt mandatum

His answer made anger boil in her belly, though she did not outwardly show it but for the stiffening of her shoulders. Did he think that sufficient? Had he even heard her? She had been abandoned, spent weeks and weeks on her own searching with little hope to guide her. He could have sent word to her. He could’ve left word with their allies. But no, all he could say was his marriage had fallen apart and he’d decided the casualty would be the only real home she’d ever known, and to leave her searching, fearing the worst.

Did he even care?

Did it even matter to him at all?

Valiria looked at him finally. She softened almost instantly.

This was not a man who didn’t care. This was a man with far too many cares. He was just trying not to drown in them.

What did their past wrongs matter anyway?

”What now?” she asked finally, letting all the rest go.