"I feel embarrassed and silly, but I'm not mad. Why on earth would I be mad?" Tolten took a seat at his desk, and discreetly cast his eyes about for his shirt. Where had he dropped it?

"I understand how my words gave the wrong impression," he went on. "What I meant about arming you...in the morning I'll know whether or not a friend has a blade for me. If he does...the pipe is yours. We'll both be armed without having to worry about passing outside. And you looked ill when you came in... I was offering my bed for you to rest."

Goodness! How easily words could be misconstrued! He'd have to be very careful in the future. Or at least try.

"And that...well, that didn't count anyway. I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't...ready. I thought...well...there'd be more courtship first. If I thought anything, I suppose."