The Bracken Woods [m] marrow sliver

did red leaf dare to defy him?

cen listened with incredulity that grew increasingly cold. it was true: no child's spirit could stand against the eldritch magick of the flesh-eaters. around red leaf, the hard muscles of his arms rippled with his anger. nothing she said had been untrue, but it was only in how she had said it.

"it is true. they will be mine. and so you understand, wife, when i say that i decide what they must face. who they must face," cen snarled in a low pitch, holding her hard against the iron of his body. "the sharadoii keep their women and children behind wooden walls; i will not! the sharadoii trade for what they need across the big ice, but the lanzadoii have always had it. look around you, red leaf! we are no longer in the valley of your father. they will walk, and they will see." 

"and you will learn to trust me as a shaman, hm?" cen growled. "remember: i own your soul. no flesh-eater has more power over you than me." he paused then, expecting no more of her valley-babbling, assured in his position.

he wanted red leaf now, the fire in her voice rousing his ardor. how very lovely his sharadoii wife was, even as she spoke nonsense to his lanzadoii ears. and then cen wanted to sleep. there was more walking to be done. but the long unknown lands lay just beyond the bracken, and now, very soon, they would reach it.