‘We’ll all think about the why,’ Yatsu answered immediately. ‘It’s important.’ Then, meeting Jaldaric’s eyes with the compassion of a man faced with killing a favourite animal. ‘As for the people.’ He hesitated. ‘Those seeds are rooted in us all. Oklar merely tills the soil.’
Jaldaric’s face wrinkled in pain and doubt.
‘There’s no easy answer, Jal,’ Yatsu said, then, slapping the young man’s arm gently, ‘Go and find Hylland.’
When Jaldaric had left, Eldric and Yatsu looked at one another. Eldric’s face was pained and questioning.
‘He’s coping,’ Yatsu said in reply to the unasked question.
Eldric turned away from him. ‘It’s easier to face things yourself than watch your children face them,’ he said. ‘And so much has happened to him over these last months.’
Yatsu nodded sympathetically
