To shorten the odds." An explanation of the obvious to a slow-witted person. "I had to escape. I knew I could handle either of the men on his own, but both together might've been a problem. One from two leaves one. A great strength of mine is the ability to see straight to the crux of the problem." Miel could feel Framain's grip tighten on his arm, but now he was holding him up rather than back. "If you meant to ask, why did I rape the girl…" A laugh, dry as sand. "Story of my life, really. Just when I think I've found the right place to be, the right work to do, my heart lets me down. Always the same. Love has always been my undoing." Miel glanced over his shoulder. She wasn't there. Framain caught his eye and shook his head. "She'll be all right," he said. "Just leave her alone." It occurred to Miel that this probably wasn't true, but he made a conscious decision not to do anything about it. "We need him to get us to the Vadani," Framain said quietly. Miel assumed he was talking to himself.
