Chapter 5They left Lilac’s office by the garden door, because it was closer; the friendly raincloud obligingly shifted over to splash its drops into the long central pool instead of on Talis and by extension Jer. The air tasted like snowdrops, damp stone, the end of winter.
Jer said, “I wasn’t sure she’d say yes. I wasn’t sure you’d say yes.” He glanced over at the pool, the rain-dimples. He’d pulled the waves of pale hair into a businesslike knot, which only made the cheekbones prettier.
Talis propped a shoulder against the closest graceful marble pillar. A small amount of support still felt nice. “She thinks it might help unlock whatever’s wrong with me. And why wouldn’t I?”
“You seemed very sure you couldn’t help. Yesterday.”
“I’m not convinced I can, but I’ll try?”
Jer put his hea
