Noctisardor Bypass teil eins

the cough came twice in the telling, a fact that angered and subdued mahler. but his attention belonged solely to laurel and to the tale she spoke. her nephew, not only a murderer, but inclined toward matricide. this sobered the man visibly beneath the jagged cut of her eyes, once soft and reticent. 
mahler had not expected this change in laurel, but it was here all the same, all the while. he studied her face, turning over and over again what she had said. despite the fact that his first thought prevailed, the gargoyle put himself up against objectivity. this man was dangerous, and perhaps allowing the presence to continue would bring threat to rivenwood all the same. 
he's a threat.
knowing that further refusal would sour what little trust laurel had built between them, understanding that the omniscience of this merrick was the most keen wound to her soul, mahler did not speak until he had the words to do so.
"vhere does he stay?"
for in the conclusion of this, perhaps mahler might make a better plan. he would bring it to warrior praimfaya, relay what had been said, and observe the more militaristic answer she gave. coldly bemusing, that he should be general beside a captain once more.
"laurel," her name sweeping unbidden and uncontrolled from mahler's throat, rife with warmth and flushed with caution, but nothing followed, for no words came, and he only found himself looking in silence upon her hardened stare.