Shadowwyn Moor star path

brave suliya. her words minced nothing, strayed from no dour truths. she saw for herself what sun eater had not asked. he felt the warmth of her pelt beside him and wondered if they would be enough for one another.

"a chieftain marries. he shows his people the way forward. how am i to make them lanzadoii if they must suffer a sacrifice i am not also forced to make? we are saatsine, all of us."

but swiftly, unbidden, his mind flew to morwenna.

"i married lanzadoii. she died. i married sharadoii. she fought me. twice i took a wife for love." and both times had ended in grief. "i agree there is much to consider." if they did not choose one another, their mates would be outside lanzadoii blood, built into the saatsine. someone to teach.

"i believe it would be easier between us, suliya." she would not have to find a man who understood her need for careful thought; their minds shared the same language.

yet sun eater's mind circled now the distance of the creek, the shining pale mark on that velveteen forehead.