“Blind kittens, groping at the teat. And they’re surprised when they’re thrown into a bag to be drowned.”

Heat floods through me at his words. “And where has fighting gotten your people? Does it comfort your dead in their graves?”

For a moment, raw fury flashes across his face. My heart pounds in my chest. I know I’ve overstepped, but I’m too proud to back down. Dineas glares at me as if he’d like to run me through, but though his jaw works, he stays silent. Perhaps because he sees the folly of truly angering me at this very moment.

Diadem hisses from the corner, and we break our gaze. I look down at my herbs, trying to gather my spiraling thoughts. I don’t know this nomad, and our few interactions have not inspired any particular good feelings toward him. But if we are to do this mission together…

I let out a breath. “We have our differences, but our paths seem to converge for a while. I want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. Do you believe me?”

My words seem to catch him off guard. He shrugs. “I don’t know anything about you or your people, but I trust Gatha, Gatha trusts Tal, and Tal trusts you.”

I shake my head. “That’s not enough. You must understand that the injection I prepare is different from anything we do in our normal lives as healers. If all goes well, it should make you forget everything that’s happened in your life thus far, but still leave you functional and able to regain your memories with the right antidote. If it doesn’t…” I pause, trying to pick the right words. “I’m good at my craft, Dineas. I’ve combed the scrolls for knowledge, and I’ve discussed my plan with my master. But there’s always the chance of something going wrong. You might lose part of yourself. I ask you again. Do you trust me to do this?”

A crow caws outside. Dineas stares out the window. His silence unnerves me, but at least I know my words have gotten through to him.