[ That's not an answer, not to the question Sturmhond asked. Or perhaps it is? He watches his friend, reading his anger and wondering at it. He stays quite still.

Beside them Korol has settled beside Justice and has draped his tail over her back. ]

He had a wife, Barnaby. [ Sturmhond says that very gently. ] Had a wife.

I don't doubt that he loved her, but people must move on, in life. I have seen how attached he is to you.

Why cannot you even entertain the idea that there might be more behind that?