He should have been offended, that she had laughed at him at all. But all he could think of was that he should never hear that sound again.
He was not her friend, Inspector Morandi reminded himself. He was not anyone to her. Nor did she have any idea just how seemingly mad he had gone – and he planned to keep it that way. Easier for the both of them; easier for all of them.
All but one, he supposed. He tried to imagine talking to the magister about finding a home for pup. He dismissed the thought, feeling rather foolish.
It was a coarse, human sort of dog, a threadbare mutt, by his estimation. Perhaps, if they left it there, he could come back for it. Perhaps he could find a home for it himself. Perhaps – there was too much perhaps, and not enough certainty. There had not been enough certainty to outweigh all the perhaps all day. What had happened to him? Morandi did not like this feeling, this out-of-control feeling; even in the direst emergencies of his life, in the past, he had conducted himself with the utmost discipline and organization.
When she replied, he was grateful at least to have something else on which to focus. She seemed surprised, once again. Silently he waited for her to answer.
He grunted, nodding, though he knew she could not see. “Less pain is good,” he said matter-of-factly.
No scrap, this time. Her tone was more hesitant; that terribly Anaxi phrase again – bells and chimes – almost brought a quirk to his lip. Almost. It did not, in the end. He scowled more deeply.
“There is no pain for me. In that, you are correct.” Pup was scarfing something else down; his brow furrowed, momentarily distracted. What had she given him this time? Of her own food? “You need to keep your strength up,” he said suddenly, sharply, “more so than the dog,” over the enthusiastic, slobbery noises.
Pup whined softly, for all the world as if he heard.
Morandi snorted. “There is no pain, but I can see nothing. No impressions. No – light.” And if the pain wore off but the blindness did not–? Another, more agitated snort. “If it does not wear off by the time we are found, I am certain the physicians at Brunnhold will be able to do something. I shall do everything in my power to see that they do.”
Blind. The thought was almost dizzying. What would Amelie–? The Beauvilliers had signed up to marry their daughter to an ambitious, accomplished officer of the Seventen, one with a bright future. Would they call off the engagement? His future, all his plans, in an instant –
He frowned, suddenly uncomfortably aware of who it was that sat across from him. “It is good that the dog found us this place, at least. And good that it is Roalis. It seems as though we shall be staying the night.” Cold, no more or less matter-of-fact than he had been, despite the growing uncertainty he felt.