8
Howls in the Night
Petra walked in silence, feeling as though he’d been clubbed. Denthold was behind the thefts?
“You needn’t be afraid of Samarrind,” Amlinn said out of the darkness. “I know she seems intimidating, but you have to understand, her first duty is to Arrica. She’s really very kind. She’s the closest thing I’ve had to a mother since . . .” Her voice trailed away.
“Since?” Petra said after a moment, curious.
“Since my parents were killed,” Amlinn said.
“Oh!” Petra said. He hesitated. “How?”
“Nightdwellers. When I was a toddler.”
“I’m sorry.” That didn’t seem adequate, so he added, “My mother died shortly after I was born.” He glanced sideways at Amlinn. She didn’t appear to be upset. He supposed she hardly remembered her parents, just as he did not remember his mother
