"What did you see in the bowls?"
"Are you sure you wish me to say?"
"All of it plays in my head on an endless loop. Not gonna be a news flash, whatever it is. "
"She told you she was pregnant in your kitchen. You fell to the floor before her - she was happy, you were not. "
As he blanched, she wished she'd shared one of the other scenes.
And then he surprised her. "It's weird. . . but I knew it was bad news. Too much good fortune. She wanted one so badly. Every ten years we fought about it when she had her needing. Finally, it got to the point where she was going to leave me if I didn't agree to let her try. It was like choosing between taking a bullet or a blade - either way, I knew. . . somehow I was going to lose her. "
Using the crutch, he hobbled over to a chair, pulled it out, and sat down. As he awkwardly maneuvered his injured foot around, she realized they had yet another thing in common.
She approached him slowly and unevenly and sat at the desk beside him. "I am so sorry. " When he seemed a bit surprised, she shrugged once again. "How can I not offer condolences in the face of your loss? In truth, after seeing you both together, I don't think I shall ever forget how much you loved her. "
After a moment, he murmured hoarsely, "That makes two of us. "
As they fell silent, Tohr stared at the small, hooded figure sitting so still next to him. They were separated by about four feet, each parked at one of the scribing desks. But they seemed closer than that.
"Take your hood off for me. " As No'One hesitated, he tacked on, "You saw the best of my life. I want to see your eyes. "
Her pale hands lifted, and they shook ever so slightly as she removed what covered her face.
She didn't look at him. Likely couldn't.
With dispassionate focus, he measured the spectacular angles of her features. "Why do you wear that all the time. "
She took a deep breath, the robe rising and falling such that he was forced to remember she was probably still naked under it.
"Tell me," he demanded.
As she squared her shoulders, he thought that anyone who believed this female was weak had another think coming.
"This face" - she motioned around her perfectly angled jaw and her rosy, high cheeks - "is not who I am. If people see it, they treat me with a deference that is inappropriate. Even the Chosen did so. I cover it up because if I don't, then I am propagating a lie, and even if it grinds upon only me, that is enough. "
"You have quite a way of putting things. "
"Is the explanation not sufficient. "
"It is. " When she went to raise the thing up again, he reached out and put his hand on her arm. "If I promise to forget what you look like, will you keep it down? I can't judge your mood as well when you're hiding - and in case you haven't noticed, we're not exactly talking about the weather here. "
She kept her hand on one half of the hood, as if she couldn't let go. And then she locked her eyes on him - so directly he recoiled.
It was the first time she'd really looked at him, he realized. Ever.
Speaking with likewise candor, she said, "Just so that you and I are utterly clear with each other, I have no interest in any male. I am sexually repulsed by your kind, and that includes yourself. "
He cleared his throat. Pulled at his muscle shirt. Shifted in the chair.
Then he took a slow, relieved breath.
No'One continued, "If I have offended you - "
"No, not at all. I know it's not personal. "
"It truly is not. "
"To be honest, it makes things. . . easier. Because I feel the same way. "