Moonspear it's real quiet here

Yes, she agreed with a faint twitch of her lips. Kinusi’s too, Pie reminded. We’re not related by blood but Alaric was a dear friend of my mother’s. And now he’s a dear friend of mine.

Her earlier thoughts flitted through her head. Once, she would’ve said Alaric was like a father figure to her. She had long since buried that notion, even if wasn’t sure if she would ever broach the topic of romance with him ever again. It was a shame, for Alaric’s sake much more than her own, as the Ostrega could easily picture him as husband and father material. She’d witnessed as much.

Katmai’s querying tone drew her attention and she quickly nodded and said, Yes, of course.

This time, the shadow that Treepie sensed was corporeal. She glanced upward to see Wyvern flapping by overhead, winging in a circle over the mountain clearing. Pie barked a greeting to the bird, then refocused her attention upon Katmai, ignoring the dull pounding starting in the back of her head.