Deepwood Weald all aboard a sinking ship

you did nothing wrong. she corrects him, but softens again when he speaks of his own mother. 

but mentioning his father's wives brings back a memory of prancing around in the spring grass, watching afar as the dark shadow that sired her was surrounded always by a flurry of women. none of them does she remember the faces of. all were so embroiled in their own conflict that she's sure khaba forgot he had children until akashingo invaded.

and zharille.

i'm sorry.. but i think i understand. but she never had parents. he at least had a father.

she thinks of the marriage, of greatwater lake's insistence to return with new disgusting life eager to replace racharra as bint-zharille, how eager beasts seem to get to have children, how much time she has left as a maiden, how much time she has left as spiritual daughter of toula before she gets replaced by someone she can truly call a daughter to the world —

and racharra finishes the last of the pheasant with a dainty wipe at her lips. the best of the pile of feathers are plucked out from their pile one last time, and tucked away into one of the gifts.

i think it's best to get going, and not dwell on things we have no control over anymore.