Blackfeather Woods Let us sing when we can and forget the rest

She knew the question would come eventually. Mou's descent into madness was too marked to go unnoticed, and there was no recovery in sight. He would not return to his post anytime soon, and in the meantime, it remained vacant. Three leaders were obviously more effective than two. . .but who best to step up?

You're right, Maegi responded easily enough, perhaps surprising her brother. Even she, though, had seen the writing on the wall. But I'm not sure who would be best. Tundra, maybe? She seems able enough, and loyal from what I've learned and picked up on.

But she lacked longevity—they all did, really. There was no Wintersbane, no Kove, no longstanding servants of the forest to choose from. Just a ragtag gang of relative newcomers, who—for all their merits, and there were plenty—didn't have the depth of knowledge of the woods that Mou had. That other figures from the past had. No choice would be without apprehension.

At the same time, they couldn't very well leave the post unfilled. Maegi stared at Ramsay, wondering what (more importantly, who) he had in mind.