had captured me completely. I was his friend. Perhaps I was his best friend in the world. The singular circumstances of our coming together had helped much to strengthen the tie between us. I glanced down at him, full of my affection for him, and minded to take advantage of the rights of that affection for once in a way.
“Alresca,” I said quietly.
“Well?”
“What was it?”
“What was what?”
I met his gaze.
“What was that thing that you have fought and driven off? What is the mystery of it? You know — you must know. Tell me.”
His eyelids fell.