Totoka River it was the clan

He was bold, this earthen man -- and the simplicity in which he confessed his affection was not missed by the little urchin. For certain, his candor required a vein of courage Caiaphas was entirely without -- and for this, she did not immediately strike him for his dauntless concession.

Were he a wolf of the brine, perhaps their lives would have been different. Yet the slender Siren Queen had seen Lasher only but a handful of times, and felt his scarce appearance was hardly worth a proposal. The wolves of the Sound commanded her more -- and they were resolute in their faithfulness to their Queen. Caiaphas surmised this man was governed by none save his own fancies. "You will have to fall in line." The utterance was delivered with the cutting firmness of a blade -- and with a flippancy that belied her own opinion of Lasher, Caiaphas turned from him to attend those who served her consistently -- the wolves of her home.