Her face was
full of concern, but he had not the strength to pretend that things were
better than they were.
He cooked the rabbit without a word, and divided out the portions. The
three ate silently, and even the cub seemed subdued, sensing her
master's mood. Kalus placed the tiger's share outside the door,
wrapped his fur tighter, and sat like a troubled stone before the fire.
Sylviana could stand it no longer.
'Kalus, what is it? What's wrong?'
'I can't talk about it,' he said. 'I'm sorry.'
'Why are you shutting me out again?'
'Sylviana, please.' Her tone changed when she saw his eyes. Pain
she had seen in them, and anger. Even resignation to death. But this
pleading, tearful sorrow, as if his spirit was cornered and in
torment.....
'It's all right,' she said softly, kneeling beside him. She
wanted to comfort him with caresses and kind words, but something held
her back. Better to let the dam burst on its own.
'Well, can we talk about something else?'
'If you like.' He mastered himself, became calm.
'You never told me about the wolves: why Kamela was so bitter, and
why Akar left the cub behind.' Here, he thought, was a chance to
escape his own feelings.
'It's a long story,' he began, 'And many parts I don't
know for certain. But from things I have learned, and from things I
knew before, I think I can tell you this much.
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