Dragoncrest Cliffs Alfonsino

He spoke candidly. His words were not unexpected, though that didn’t make them easy to hear. Meerkat’s heart went out to her son, having to deal with all these complex emotions at such a tender age. She wished she’d been better at hiding her own misery, though Meerkat would never want to be dishonest with her children. It was a difficult situation, to say the least.

That makes sense, she validated his anger. I’m mad too, that he hurt all of us. He didn’t mean to, which makes a difference to me… but it doesn’t just absolve him.

Meerkat paused to untangle her own snarled thoughts about Swordfish’s last few statements. She didn’t think Njord was behaving as if none of it had ever happened—he was working hard on making his penances—but maybe it didn’t seem that way to Swordfish. She would have to tell her husband to increase his efforts to redeem himself to his sons.

I think your da is trying, though he’s not perfect. Is there anything you think he ought to be doing in particular, to try making up for it? Meerkat wondered gently.