Swiftcurrent Creek violet curse

"arric." the mayfair dipped his head in polite consternation. "w-we've s-spoken to arlette and a-akavir. s-suzu asked for shar — for s-swordfish."
his eyes at last were lifted in a shy plead as suzu's voice rose melodically over the creekland.
"h-he's trying to d-do the r-right t-thing, arric."
this had nothing to do with himself; lestan was prepared to leave as soon as the little family was settled, to flee the sadness of what he had said and done here.
shardik's shoulder against his own soothed the impulse, more than a little.