If I were younger or better looking, someone might care. As it is, they might think I’m being foolhardy, if anybody notices me at all.” He scowled at her. “You are a fine looking woman. If your countrymen cannot see that, it is the fault of the decadent south, not you.”
“I’m not completely useless, you know,” she said, picking at her skirts. There was a long silence, and then out of the dark, his voice said, “I never thought you were.” She was glad that he couldn’t see her blush.
It was certainly not the first time that a woman had had their face in that vicinity, but Sarkis really preferred them to be awake and enthusiastic about it, not snoring.
“It’s all right. You couldn’t have known.” “I was so stupid.” “No,” he said. “Just kind. It’s all right. It will be all right. I’m here. You’re safe now. No harm done.”
The urge flared again to go after the people who had done this and kill them. Or possibly just burn the entire world that was so unkind to people like Halla.
Sarkis liked watching her. She waved her hands a lot and her face was never still. It was an odd performance to find pleasure in, perhaps, but he found himself wanting to smile. He scowled fiercely to prevent any trace from escaping.