Emberflame Ridge schneemusik

the longer the boy spoke, the more confused mahler became. it translated to frustration, and then a cold silence as he attempted to piece together the convoluted sense of family that mali had revealed. "your father should be leading you and your sister. vhy has he not intervened on your behalf against the ones who lead elysium?'
first they were trapped, and then they were in danger of being thrown out. it seemed that the grown wolves in mali's life had infantilized him to such a degree he did not know he was no suckling. "you are not a child. if you vant to leave, then go. if your father vill not lead, then take your sister and depart."
lilac eyes narrowed; mahler lifted his chin. "i vould take you to disapora, if you vanted to go. but there is no tolerance of the vay you behaved toward those in charge. however," the gargoyle went on, "there you vould not be a child. free to come and go as you please, so long as you hunt vith us and keep the land safe."
a bold offer, and not one he suspected the boy would take, but mahler felt that he must make it all the same.