He looked at all three of them. Talyra and Aisella were gazing at Nerith with the full, focused warmth of people who recognized the significance of the moment and committed to being present for it.
Nerith returned their gaze, wearing the expression of someone who had expected the ground to remain steady and was surprised to find solid footing. Any complicated activity had been halted by the amber leaves.
They were simply warm.
Then the three of them stared at Rex.
"Anything else to say, nonchalant man?" Talyra said pleasantly.
Rex studied them for a moment. Then he turned back to the window, watching the scrub of the plateau move past, and he thought about the Key to the Underlayer and Elizabeth Von Starlight and the geography of the northwest tributary canyon approach.
"No comment about it," he replied.
"That's what we thought," said Aisella, and resumed her conversation with Nerith.
"Just continue your talk, and don't hope that I'll answer."
...
