“Asteria,” she said. “Yes,” said Asteria, nose against a window, watching the water fall on the town. “A while back, you called me Bell.” Rain filled the silence between them. “I did,” said Asteria finally. “My name is Maribella, though. Why call me Bell?” “Bell is part of Maribella, yes? Such is the way names can be made, from another name.” “Well, yes, that can happen, sure. People have nicknames, and well, pet names and the like. Nobody else has ever called me Bell, though.”
