“DID IT SEEM TO bother him?”
“Killing Domm? I don’t think so. Should it have?”
“I’m not sure. I suppose I would have been happier if it had, but—”
“You’ve changed, Cawti.”
“So has he.”
“Not as much as you have.”
“From what you’ve told me, I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Come to think of it, neither am I. But . . .”
“Yes?”
“There’s so much you’re leaving out. I can see the gaps in your story.”
“I told you—”
“I know, I know.”
“In any case, that was about it.”
“And there’s another gap.”
“Cawti—”
“Sorry. You mean, you just left after that?”
“Pretty much, yes. There was a bit of excitement that proved to be nothing, and we got some reassurances, and then Vlad took Savn and went away for parts unknown, and I came back home where I found your letter waiting for me.”
“Tell me about the excitement that proved to be nothing, and about the reassurances.”
“All right. What is it?”
“I don’t know, Kiera. It’s good to hear this, but it just makes me want to find out more.”
“Are you going to try to?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“All right.”
“Should we have more tea?”
“I think something stronger.”
“Good idea.”
“And then some food. I’ll buy.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“Is there a hint of irony there, Cawti?”
“No, actually, I don’t think there is.”