Page 100 of Alien Burn

“I'm glad I came,” he said.

She looked at the weary crease beside his mouth.

“Was it a bad day?”

“Parts of it.”

“Do you want to tell me about those parts, or sit here?”

He was quiet long enough that she thought he would choose the second.

“I went to see Fiviel's father.”

“Oh.”

“He thought I had news when I walked in.”

She moved her hand back into his.

“Nothing?”

“Nothing that answered his question.”

The garden's small sounds returned around them. Water. Leaves. A bird making a sharp complaint somewhere out of sight.

“Did he want you to stay?” she asked.

Dhomhes looked at her.

“He asked me to come again.”

“Then you gave him something.”

“Not what he wanted.”

“No.”

She didn't try to improve the answer. Some absences couldn't be talked into smaller shapes.

His hand tightened around hers.

“I keep thinking of things I should have done,” he said.

“Before the platform?”

“Before. During. After. There is a generous selection.”

She looked at the faint mark on his palm, where the cut had been.

“You were there.”

“I was.”

“I remember.”

He turned his hand slightly, letting her see the place her eyes had found.

She touched beside the healing line.