it's not by bone but yet by blade
can break the magic that the devil made
He flashed a grateful smile at his friend when Magnus dismissed his apology. Not that he could help being sick, but it was frustrating when it interrupted conversation. And this was important conversation to him. A long awaited one. Things in Taiga had kept his hands so full he hadn't even had the time to see Magnus. Or anyone but the Taigans.
And the one time he finally took a moment to himself, their entire world fell apart.
He walked and listened. Tephra didn't have healers either then. They seemed to be a rare breed. Ruan only knew of Bright that may be able to heal or ease symptoms, but she was nowhere to be found. Doing her own things, no doubt. Important enough not to return for her boy yet, so they must have been dire.
"Your family is sprawling then," Magnus joked and he huffed a soft laugh. "Good. That's good."
He continued to tell Ruan that his own family was growing, that he had more children than he ever thought he would. That they were independent and roaming. Ruan frowned and looked to him when he said he had never been a perfect father and that he wished he was better at keeping his children together so he could look out for them.
"You are too hard on yourself. They make their own choices and that is no reflection or measurement of yourself as a father." He knew it so certainly. His own dawn and twilight daughter had left home to forcefully takeover a kingdom, something he would never, ever encourage or even expect of any of his children. She absolutely hadn't learned that from him, so he knew all too well they would make their own choices, for better or worse.
"Have you married? Or are you not a marrying man? We haven't had the opportunity to talk about it." He grimaced in regret. He would've preferred to have had more time to speak with him, and people outside of his home in general. Either answer would be welcome; he held no judgement, only curiosity.
and it's not by fire but what's forged in flame
can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain
