Ravensblood Forest letter of marque

chani.
mireille drew on the rein of control she had cultivated, first as daughter, then as leader, and now as mother.
she could not hold quorum with what nox insinuated. her mind rejected it, and what had to pass for rationalization now must come hard on its heels.
"sapphique's women be strong swimmers," she said, nosing a tiny paw with its miniscule claws. "if she knew no one would brave de waters, she wouldnae have hesitated."
another dig at the pirates, too cowardly to enter the salt. "i myself used to jump from de cliffs into de ocean."
chani! no! all earlier feelings of relief were gone as mireille grappled with a hurting grief and reeling sense of dread. but what would it do to scream and cry? if the sea had taken chani, then she had died free in its grasp.
free from her.
hatred and loathing threatened to choke mireille. she watched nox with a smoothed expression. "it would not do well for murkwood if a daughter of de shores died tryin' an escape."