Wisdom in the Wild

LERRIN

The feeling didn't sit comfortably, no matter what Lucine might have said to Suhle about his attitudes.

He ate the rest of his meal in silence, not tasting it. His stomach churning, not from the food, but from the way his thoughts disturbed him.

He let himself scan back through the weeks Suhle had served him. All the times he'd growled at her, or ranted, snapping her down for her insightful questions while he was explaining what had happened during his day… and all the times she'd been kind in the face of his anger, soothing him and assisting him until and he'd left the tent calmer, with her smile at his back, better able to be patient when he met conflict with others later.

But… but she was weak.

Wasn't she?

He looked at her sitting across from him, endlessly patient. Her eyes were low, resting thoughtlessly on his arm, he thought. But when he looked up, she brought her gaze up to meet his, a question in her eyes.