Herbalists' Cache ghosts

seeing swordfish brought a great lightness to lestan, though he was not sure he could convey it. "i'm — all right," he sighed, softening beneath the exploration of his travelmate. "s-swiftcurrent c-creek isn't f-far. i — f-figured we'd r-rest t-there a m-minute m-maybe."
a thoughtfully curious gaze now reached for the younger man. "i m-met s-someone. a very p-pregnant someone, back in the w-wetlands. s-she was with another. i s-sent t-them to s-swiftcurrent. t-this woman w-we're f-following, my t-talisman wasn't the only t-thing she t-took! children, t-too. so i c-couldn't see a safe w-way t-they could be p-protected without a p-pack — anyway, s-shardik, she asked that i b-bring a m-message to you."
he studied the stoic features of the rugged wolf. "s-suzu. that w-was her n-name. she asked m-me to t-tell you s-she was g-going to be th-there."