She feels a momentary stab of happiness, that he would care enough to look so grieved now -- but it is followed swiftly by a stronger pang of guilt at the thought.

"I'm sorry," she says quietly, and she wants to throw her arms around him but she doesn't know how it would be received and, in the end, she stands with her hands at her sides, looking up at him. His grip is strong (perhaps a little too much so), but she is grateful for it. "I'm so sorry-- Rial-- I knew that my mother had spoken to you but I had hoped you had heard the messages that I left you afterward--"