LOREN
As Roana recounted the tension between herself and Phoebe Loren gave her a sympathetic look. ”I’m sorry to hear that.” He hesitated, a haunted expression crossing his face. ”And I know it’s not really my place to say but...as someone who comes from a complicated and occasionally divisive family, don’t leave it until it’s too late. You never know when someone will be taken from you.” The Launceleyns were almost all gone at this point, and Loren was a pitiful replacement for those that had gone before.
Loren knew firsthand how quick the Naturals were to correct stubborn Outlanders. However, in this particular case, he wasn’t so sure about Roana’s reasoning, both about the natives or about the gods. From what he’d heard, though they’d worshipped, they’d seen little of the gods at least until the outlander’s arrival. Until The Voice herself had acted, which might have forced the old gods into action of their own. Instead of arguing with Roana about the first part of her explanation, he decided to reply to the second. It was more important anyway. ”You can protect people without taking sides.” It was usually the hardest path. But that didn’t make it any less right.
Loren knew firsthand how quick the Naturals were to correct stubborn Outlanders. However, in this particular case, he wasn’t so sure about Roana’s reasoning, both about the natives or about the gods. From what he’d heard, though they’d worshipped, they’d seen little of the gods at least until the outlander’s arrival. Until The Voice herself had acted, which might have forced the old gods into action of their own. Instead of arguing with Roana about the first part of her explanation, he decided to reply to the second. It was more important anyway. ”You can protect people without taking sides.” It was usually the hardest path. But that didn’t make it any less right.
But don’t be weary if it’s broken
Families are like that—
they’re split up and always torn.
