Shrugging at Morgan's question, Loren shook his head. "No, I haven't. I have to think about it." His nostrils flared. "Because you were direct with me, I'll be direct with you: I have to decide if I can trust you again as well." Gripping the straps of his pack so tightly his knuckles went white, he narrowed his eyes at her.
For a moment he fell silent, chewing his lower lip. Then he sighed. "Can I ask you why you didn't come to speak to me about the metal in private?" Taking a deep breath, he finally looked away from her. He studied the papers on her desk, though his eyes weren't actually taking them in. He was just looking for something to distract himself.
However, his gaze snapped back to her. "Also, for the record, I have absolutely no quarrel with the Ascended and I was never intending to turn the metal over to the old gods."
For a moment he fell silent, chewing his lower lip. Then he sighed. "Can I ask you why you didn't come to speak to me about the metal in private?" Taking a deep breath, he finally looked away from her. He studied the papers on her desk, though his eyes weren't actually taking them in. He was just looking for something to distract himself.
However, his gaze snapped back to her. "Also, for the record, I have absolutely no quarrel with the Ascended and I was never intending to turn the metal over to the old gods."
THE FIREBRAND
Loren
