What do I look like, A Priest? A sexy one, Maybe.

Nairn claimed the smoke, muttering, I don't use that name for reasons. They'd want money, they'd want a 'slice of the pie'. That family never even bothered lookin' for me.

He brought the cig to his mouth, inhaling deeply. Why would she tell him my name? What if he tells the wrong person? They go after them, to get at me. He coughed, with a puff of smoke. Fuckin' dangerous for the kid too.

Another drag on the cig, as he stared at the open bottle of alcohol between them. I cleared his debts. And he begged me not to send him off. Said I wanted him before, why's it any different.

He had to, eventually, acknowledge there was truth to Ruth's words. The child was safest with him, safest with the woman he loved. Safest away from the Coterie. Yeah. I know.

Nairn let silence settle across them, focusing on the tobacco. And after a few minutes, Talk to him, for me? He freaked when I suggested sending him to Arlathan. That suggestion had been made in a panic; he'd not been thinking that he'd need to deal with telling his future-wife.

Fuck. Another long draw on the cig.