Now.
"Daine? Can
I talk to you?" Onua asks.
"Isn't that what we're
doing now?" Daine smiles wryly.
Onua gives her a weak
smile. "Alone, please/"
"Yeah, sure," Daine
says, wondering what's up.
Onua and Daine walk
over to a nearby tree and sit. "What's up?" Daine asks.
Onua takes a deep breath,
mentally debating the question of whether she ought to tell Daine or not.
"Do you remember when
you told Numair and me about what happened to you? Back in your village?" Her voice
comes out no louder than a whisper.
"Yeah, I do. It was
hard," Daine says, "But I knew I could trust you. Because you and Numair were?well,
I just knew I could trust you."
"Did anyone ever tell
you about me?"
"Yes," Daine says slowly,
sadly, "You were beaten by your husband."
"That's what I told
everyone, but--when I was 14, there was something else. I--"
"Onua! Daine!" Sarge
yells, "I need help with these idiots!"
"Coming!" Daine calls,
and then says to Onua, "Unless you don't--"
"No," Onua interrupts
her, "It's all right. But I would still like to talk with you later..."
"All right," Daine
says.
