A sigh left her as he stood. "I didn't mean for you think it was a bad thing--" she called after him. It was endearing. But the moment came and went, and it was there she realized that Kell's hair was different. She could see both of his eyes clearly now.

The tunic came over her head and Neria smoothed it down as she stood, pushing her hair out of her eyes and beginning to comb it with her fingers into something more presentable.

"I don't want you to feel responsible for me, Kell," she murmured. "I..." She turned to him. "Wouldn't the king and queen know? I don't want it to be--" How could she put it into words? "Wouldn't it cause trouble for you to be seen doing things for a stranger? For a stranger from another world, even?"