[ But Byerly shakes his head very slightly. Then - ]
Well, yes, I do. But not from them. [ Apologetically: ] I know you're very fond of her, but if Yseult never spoke to me again, I would be far from heartbroken. In the rare moments she's not turning her nose up at my ideas, she's staring at me like I'm an idiot. Even a fellow with a predilection for haughty older women gets tired of it after a time.
I like - [ He blows out a breath. ] Getting somewhere. I like action. We were going around and around with Derrica on the Templar question, her being obstructionist and the others tiptoeing around her feelings. And the thought came to me, then, the Chantry mother isn't going to tiptoe around her feelings - and where will we be then? - and so I pushed. And then the others acted as though I were an idiot for treating the girl the way the world will treat her. Like I don't know what I'm doing. But it'll be on my head if she throws a temper tantrum at a visiting dignitary. Flint and Yseult, they can stay off to the side playing with their little toy soldiers, and Stark can retreat back to the lab to beat himself off or whatever he does, but I always have to be managing the tempests.
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Well, yes, I do. But not from them. [ Apologetically: ] I know you're very fond of her, but if Yseult never spoke to me again, I would be far from heartbroken. In the rare moments she's not turning her nose up at my ideas, she's staring at me like I'm an idiot. Even a fellow with a predilection for haughty older women gets tired of it after a time.
I like - [ He blows out a breath. ] Getting somewhere. I like action. We were going around and around with Derrica on the Templar question, her being obstructionist and the others tiptoeing around her feelings. And the thought came to me, then, the Chantry mother isn't going to tiptoe around her feelings - and where will we be then? - and so I pushed. And then the others acted as though I were an idiot for treating the girl the way the world will treat her. Like I don't know what I'm doing. But it'll be on my head if she throws a temper tantrum at a visiting dignitary. Flint and Yseult, they can stay off to the side playing with their little toy soldiers, and Stark can retreat back to the lab to beat himself off or whatever he does, but I always have to be managing the tempests.