"No," is immediate. "Not that's not necessary. It's not ..." He exhales heavily. "You haven't done anything wrong, Ennaris. You've been dealt a very complicated hand, and I can see you are doing your best with it. My reaction is more..."
A pause, as if over a decision. "I know you have done a bit of reading, about the Circles. Have you encountered anything about Kinloch Hold? Say what happened there about 20 years ago, with the near annulment?"
He doesn't expect her to have; it's a very specific piece of history. But he asks to know how far he needs to back up in giving her the proper context.
no subject
A pause, as if over a decision. "I know you have done a bit of reading, about the Circles. Have you encountered anything about Kinloch Hold? Say what happened there about 20 years ago, with the near annulment?"
He doesn't expect her to have; it's a very specific piece of history. But he asks to know how far he needs to back up in giving her the proper context.