"This is taking too long," he muttered, arms crossed and staring out into the clouds beyond the hill.
She leaned against the tree, cheek pressed against the bark, watching him scowl into the distance. "It is taking just as long as it needs to. There must be a time of adjustment."
"Steel is dipped red hot into the water to cool."
"And causes an explosion of steam that blinds everyone, yes. But steel is also carefully folded, hammered, and folded again to make something worthwhile."
His lips worked, fighting the grin. Her analogy beat his easily, as always, and as always, it tickled him inside. Relenting, he sighed and let his arms go free to slap at his thighs. He shrugged and smiled reluctantly out into the sky. "You are right. As usual. This Ulrich fellow-"
"I do not wish to speak of him."
The vehemence of her voice caused him to turn around. She had averted her gaze and seemed to be inspecting the tree beneath her fingertips as she caressed its rough skin. After a moment of silence, she glanced aside and found him watching her. Her eyes returned to the bark before she spoke again. "He is not as he says. Well, he is, but what he says is not what it should be. I do not know."
A rare display of irritation, and she turned away, pushing off of the tree to step around the other side and put her back to it. And to Thomas.
"He puts off an unpleasant aire like a bad fire, I'll agree. But I haven't seen you react this way to someone in quite some time...is there something I should know?" He stepped forward and took up her previous posture of leaning against the tree. One hand reached forward and touched her shoulder. She allowed it, and even seemed to soften beneath the touch.
"It is not his smoke that bothers me. It is the fact that such smoke comes from a fire that is so pure. Or once was. Be wary of that which seems pleasant to hide the rot within, dear heart."
His smile was sympathetic, but slightly condescending. "I've dealt with many such in my time. I thought I'd gotten quite good at dealing with them, actually."
She suddenly jerked away, stepping forwards and down the hill from him. "Do not patronize me, Thomas. You know, now, that you have exceeded those you once feared. Do not allow your kindness to ... to..." She bowed her head and fell silent.
Thomas could only watch, confused, and felt held back by the tree he leaned on. She stood, just out of reach, lost in emotion and thought. Before he could speak, she raised her head again towards the sky, a ribbon of hair falling away from her shoulder to join the rest of the dark waterfall down her back.
"Be wary, dear heart. You will soon have a shield, but...Some knives that stab in the back are not intentional," and she nodded again, stepping down the hill and vanishing.
He frowned, and was startled, suddenly, by the drop of moisture on his hand. Thomas realized that he was weeping...
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