[Alistair watched him from afar before he spoke even to me of him. As if he might have tentacles. Too many eyes. Some monstrous thing instead of a boy. Morrigan says none of that because she and Alistair were young, they hated one another, and it was--

Well no one but them (and Kieran, when he's old enough to appreciate it and now the weight of that secret) needs to know.]

How much do any of us know that do not live so many years as you to see shapes and patterns unfold time and again? [Sharp again, the hackles up. This is her son.

Carefully, she does not answer the question, or perhaps she does in that, it's up to him to decide as she weighs what she's comfortable trusting.]

Why would he be being punished?