The progression advanced through the woods. Athyn and Ina walked surrounded by the Gnarls, all of them making snapping noises as they walked hunched over, much like primates.
"They're roots," said Ina. "Or they used to be. Some of these are the roots of the magical trees you knocked over to build your tower."
"And how was I supposed to know that?" Athyn kept her demand down to a whisper.
"You check." Ina did not whisper. "What you do affects everything and everyone around to any degree. You check. You show that you're not blind. That you're aware. You don't act recklessly, like a savage."
Athyn snickered and rolled her eyes. "Fine. It was just a mistake."
"No it wasn't." Ina grabbed Athyn's shoulder and forcefully turned the Femage so they'd be facing each other. "It was stupidity. And there is a world of difference between the two."