Nova Peak Until I found a bruise on the other side

mahler was slightly caught off-guard by the winterwhite's shift toward him. "there vas none so great as sawtooth," he agreed softly, for that had been the place where such greatness and such sorrows had been achieved. stalling for time; a gust of air swelling his flanks and then he was pressing lightly and quietly along, knowing she would move as they had once walked in diaspora.
she saw much of him; had seen too much of him, mahler considered with no small amount of guilt. but the long years they had shared between one another had of course given her a better insight than others. he wondered if wylla would think their discourse regrettable; if she would believe that he had betrayed her again in his admission to takiyok. 
but he did not wish to lie. he was not able to lie. "the spring may find me a bachelor," the gargoyle intoned finally, vague but he need not unsnarl it for takiyok. she would understand.