Redsand Canyon the day pressed on like crushing weights

The boy's lips curled upward at the sight of Tuur. Larger than he, certainly a threat if he wanted to be, but the stonehewn wolf kept his gaze turned downward, appropriately submissive. Whatever capability that strong frame lent the other boy was lost under what appeared to be a meek manner. Like prey, like he always had been.

Aventus prowled closer, with one eye and both ears keeping careful watch on his surroundings. One wrong shadow and he would be gone. Traveling with my companion, keeping an eye on some old friends, he said in a slow and measured voice. That was true enough. Arielle was somewhere close by, searching elsewhere in the mountains for a trace of the Saints. He tilted his head and regarded Tuur's missing ear.

And what are you doing here, in the den of the Saints? He elongated the syllables of the last word, rasping it hatefully between his teeth with a flick of his tongue. Father has been looking for you. He would be quite disappointed to know you were here, he added, and that was also true. He dare not reveal that he knew what had happened in Moonglow, though.