Given all this, it was no surprise she stumbled and fell. Her gasp became a cry when she hit the rocks. This skin was so much more fragile—had it torn? It must be abraded at least. No wonder humans wore protective coverings. It was a miracle the species had survived at all.

“Oh—er—hold on a bit⁠—”

Jonathan hurried toward her, looking none too steady on his own feet. As he moved, he took off one of his coverings, pulling it down over his arms. That seemed like an impressive maneuver, compared to what Hæra was able to manage. She hadn’t even been able to keep hold of the coin. “Take my jacket,” he said, holding it out to her.

Hæra looked at it dubiously. The garment would provide no protection or comfort for her lower half, which seemed to be the chancy part. And no other humans were here to see her, so she didn’t have to blend in. “I don’t feel the cold. I don’t need that.”

“Yes, you do. The cold’s not why.” He looked away with a grimace.

He wanted her to follow human custom, even knowing she wasn’t human? Well, needs must. Hæra sighed, picked the coin back up, and rose gingerly to her feet.

It took her a moment to figure the “jacket” out. When she had it on, the weight felt unnatural and the fabric rubbed unpleasantly against her skin. Nevertheless, it covered most of her front, although she wasn’t going to bother with the silly fastener that looked like a line of metal teeth. “All right.”

Jonathan looked back at her. Up at her. Then he stepped back and gave a soft whistle. “Jesus. You’re six feet if you’re an inch. Or more.”

“I only have two feet.”

“No, that’s—it’s a unit of measurement. Dunno if you have those. I’m just saying you’re tall, especially for a woman.”

Hæra liked the sound of that, but she didn’t have a human’s standards. Maybe her height wouldn’t appeal to Sister Madeleine. “Is that good?”

“Dunno,” he repeated. “Depends who you ask. It just is what it is.”

How helpful. “Are you more comfortable with me now that I’ve taken on this form?”

He laughed roughly. “Comfortable’s not how I’d put it. He could look human too.”

Asgall, too, had attempted the trick their father disdained. So much for being nobler than Hæra was.

“A kelpie, I thought he was,” Jonathan said. “Naturally.”