She listened, not looking at him while he spoke. She couldn't give him that right then. Her focus instead was on piecing together the story, putting into context the concept that hovered there on the edge of her understanding. She didn't remember much about the Church, but the question- why wouldn't the church use Belief to make us-- Others like us, who had to prey on people to survive-- I asked why they wouldn't change that- reminded her too well of the conversation with one Lord Myron, tucked away in her ledger.

She had not shown Alexander that conversation. Perhaps she never would.

Trying as best she could to imagine the situation, using what little information she had, Reilanin remained silent, even as he stopped speaking. Was anything familiar? Yes, no. Others. Change. That was who they had been in that world, and change- yes, change, it was possible. She'd wanted change. Her transformation was so terrible, and Jack had made his seem extremely desirable. (But why not get rid of it altogether? Her breathing became shallow as she thought of her conversation with Lord Myron. Didn't she want to get rid of it?) Alexander had wanted it to stop, wanted to prove a point-

She looked up, startled, as he asked his question, eyes focusing on his hand as it fell. And it was there the echo hit her, pulling everything together for one long, terrible memory, and she did not answer him, gaze frozen on his wedding band.