Arrow Lake verräter

<3

he did not understand the word she spoke, but its context rang clear all the same. quietly he watched the motherdove quit his company, silently appraising her gait, the hang of her body, before he rose and nodded once toward her turned back. a fond flash of his lavender eyes over the children, and the gargoyle was gone, melted away from the thicket.
part of him very much did wish that verx would return, accept some punishment or task in exchange for mercy. mahler would take great pleasure in exacting such from the deserter. and yet, another, larger portion of the shadowpriest hoped that the sea-cur would never come back. perhaps in that, his lover and children would be spared the possibility of his weakened involvement.
mahler was silent, ruminating.