Bert looked back at her with a smile, one eyebrow rising. He looked amused, yes, but there was something else there as well, something almost thoughtful. And when he said, "You might be surprised," it was with a hidden kind of weight behind it. Of course, he immediately ruined it again by saying cheerfully, "Anyroad, I don't know if I should trust your judgement on this. Given how easily we know certain things to go to your head. Sugar. Wine. Compliments."

He cursed himself for that as soon as it was out of his mouth, unwitting cruelty that couldn't be taken back. But uming and ahing over it would only make matters worse, so, as usual, he let the worry slide off him as best he could. "Don't break that thing, will you? Gods know what's inside if it shows you visions and all that bullshit."