““Roen cleared her throat. “I’ll send Archer to you once I’m convinced he won’t say something insufferable.” Fire swallowed. “He’s never been this angry with me before.” Roen bent her face and considered her hands on the stall door. Then she came in and crouched before Fire. Just once she reached out and smoothed Fire’s hair. She held a bit of it in her fingers, contemplating it carefully, very still on her knees in the hay, as if she were trying to work out the meaning of something. “Beautiful girl,” she said. “You did a good thing today, whatever Archer thinks. Next time, mention it to someone beforehand so we’re better prepared.” “Archer never would have let me do it.” “No. But I would have.” For a moment their eyes met. Fire understood that Roen meant what she said.””
