[had kirain called in any other language, lestan would still had felt the exultant rush of relief. but hearing the scots made his heart sigh, just a little, and the tautness fled almost in totality from his shoulders. when the children bounded close, he opened his arms to them, hiding the unsurety on his face with a brief smile. i am all right, dove. and he meant it, that truth standing in his face before he turned to the pups. th-that was a hawk. they h-hunt things smaller than themselves. squirrels, r-rabbits, other b-birds. the mayfair peered seriously into all three small faces. little wolves. he did not want to single his son out for a scolding, as what had almost just occurred was frightening enough. so lestan sat back to address them all. wh-when you are sm-small, you m-must never leave these trees. where the sun t-touches the earth is not s-safe for you alone. not yet, he added, wanting to cheer his children. there would come a time when they could venture thus with much little danger; when they emerged from the shadowy cocoon of their den, they would transform into something far more dangerous than that hawk which had threatened faolán. r-remember that you are w-witches, and witches pay attention to what h-happens around them. the honeyblue eyes were gentle once more, some confidence returned.]

had kirain called in any other language, lestan would still had felt the exultant rush of relief. but hearing the scots made his heart sigh, just a little, and the tautness fled almost in totality from his shoulders. when the children bounded close, he opened his arms to them, hiding the unsurety on his face with a brief smile. i am all right, dove. and he meant it, that truth standing in his face before he turned to the pups. th-that was a hawk. they h-hunt things smaller than themselves. squirrels, r-rabbits, other b-birds.
the mayfair peered seriously into all three small faces. little wolves.
he did not want to single his son out for a scolding, as what had almost just occurred was frightening enough. so lestan sat back to address them all. wh-when you are sm-small, you m-must never leave these trees. where the sun t-touches the earth is not s-safe for you alone. not yet, he added, wanting to cheer his children. there would come a time when they could venture thus with much little danger; when they emerged from the shadowy cocoon of their den, they would transform into something far more dangerous than that hawk which had threatened faolán.
r-remember that you are w-witches, and witches pay attention to what h-happens around them.
the honeyblue eyes were gentle once more, some confidence returned.