But everything was strong right before it broke, right? An act of inevitable, subconscious desperation. And even though his words hurt enough to make her cry she throttled that emotion as best she could, and kept her voice leveled.

"Right." Gods, she didn't want to do this, didn't want to say it. But he wouldn't let her hold him, wouldn't talk to her or anyone, it was like there was no such thing as winning. But he couldn't go back in there and fuck up Nariko and Roland anymore than he already had. And she couldn't just continue on knowing he was out here by himself. "I'm the fatherless, unknowing girl you spent the night before with." She could almost vomit but even if he did look at her there would be no telling it. "All that wasted time. Maybe that was the first of very many mistakes."