[ Trahearne only hums as he concedes, bringing his cup to his lips for a thoughtful sip. In his own personal experience, he finds little more lonely than insisting on getting by on one's own. He did so for so long, after all, reasonably using Orr as his excuse. He isn't sure if he could do the same now--not after Syrlya. And so in a way he both empathizes and pities Adelis.

In his defense, though, he doesn't see Adelis as an assassin. Just a very good-looking (albeit irritable) person. ]

I suppose it aligns with your intentions to remain. [ He's going to keep his opinions that Adelis could definitely get it if he put his mind to it to himself. He doesn't seem to like that, anyway, and he has no intentions of irritating him further. ] In which case, you're in luck. I can't imagine what it must be like to want to go home but have no prospects of marriage, or vice versa.

[ Trahearne wonders if he sits in the "vice versa" category. He has too many unanswered questions.

Anyway, ]

Regardless, I must offer you my apologies, Adelis. [ He sets his coffee down. ] I did not intentionally subject you to my nightmares.