"Because my Featherlings treat me as their grandmother and their teacher." Salaark's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "They ask, not demand, knowledge from me and accept it with gratitude when I grant it to them.
"You, instead, acted all high and mighty for being my teacher." Salaark snarled. "Don't think that I've forgotten all your 'casual' remarks about the 'so-called god of Forgemastering' being less knowledgeable than a 'young genius woman'.
"Even after I graduated from my apprenticeship under you, Ripha, you treated me like a rival. I don't exchange secrets with my rivals. Especially the smug, boastful ones who never let me forget I was their student."
"Gods, was I such an insufferable prick?" Menadion was flabbergasted.
"You were, but I didn't hold it against you. None of the Guardians did." Salaark sighed. "With Threin's death and your shaky relationship with Epphy, Forgemastering was all you had left.
