One day she told them, when you have retired, you will go to live with a family who will love you for your beauty and nothing more, and if you're very lucky there will be children, and the children will pet you and pet you and pet you. Ossin has a list, I think, of such children; he sends his hunting-staff out during the months they are not needed for that work, to look for them, and add names to the list. The fleethounds stared back at her with their enormous dark liquid eyes, and believed every word.
The passage reveals a tender moment where a character comforts a group of fleethounds, envisioning their future filled with love and care after retirement. She paints a picture of a family that will appreciate them solely for their beauty, and perhaps lucky enough to have playful children who will shower them with affection. This hopeful sentiment not only reassures the animals but also highlights the strong bond between the character and the hounds.
Ossin, another character, actively prepares for this hopeful future by maintaining a list of potential families who could adopt the retired hounds. His dedication to ensuring the dogs find loving homes speaks to the theme of compassion and care for animals. The dogs, captivated by her words and believing in this promise of a better life, reflect the deep emotional connection they share with humans, emphasizing the loyalty and trust that are central to their existence.
