Mudminnow River shrike

mm. he hums to the woman's teasing (or praise?), red eyes drifting to his father as he searched for a common link between suliya and themselves.

when father refers to red leaf, it's with shame. how many times before had he regretted marrying mother? regretted having him with her?
perhaps because he was already soured, perhaps because the woman was right and strength does course through him — ghelan protests his father just slightly.

...you do not have to speak of her like that. he whispered in sharadoii. he pulls his gaze to his feet, watching the pale tuft tied to his amulet dance in the wind.