Nisa was quiet for a long moment. "Angry? " She seemed uncertain how to answer. The flickering flames were the only light as she stood there as still as a statue. "No. I suppose I always thought perhaps.. you would run." There seemed an unfamiliar emotion in her voice.

"You took a lot of money for a simple lead in York. More clothes. And father's Quran? Why take that, when it could be lost." She was sure this wasn't his usual trip. "You usually tell me when you will be gone a long time, so I would not worry something had happened to you if you were gone for a few days."

The small woman stepped slowly across the room towards him. She had grabbed something from a nearby shelf that was hard to see in the dark, but its metallic length caught the reflection of the lamp light. The blade hung limply from her other hand as she approached him.

"Don't be a coward, Aslan. I like you better when you're brave. Tell me the truth."