He gave her a long, silent look, deciding to take another drink rather than answer. She was trying to undo the work of decades, careful mental deconstruction of something she had taken for granted herself.

Until, of ccourse, she sent the glass into a rather ... ugly rock, and not even a full rock but a half rock. He arched an eyebrow at her, until she tipped it over to show the full crystals flashing inside.

Craggy eyebrows rose together, mismatched eyes opened wide. "By the Seven ... " He glanced back at her, his tone dry. "Your point needed props, as well?"