A'Ran was unreadable. He was seated, his fingers steepled and his gaze penetrating. He wasn't happy, and part of her wondered if she'd done something already to piss him off. Mansr glanced at her.
"Hello, A'Ran," she said quietly.
"Hello, Kiera." He'd never used her name before. "Are you well?"
"Yes, I am," she said. She could feel his angry energy even over the viewer. She withdrew the grass from her pocket and held it out as a peace offering, uncertain how to take his mood. "I can make grass grow! Doesn't that make you happy?"
"You may be useful yet, nishani," he allowed. A faint smile escaped despite his dark mood.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"You're hurt," he said, his mood darkening. She touched her bruised cheekbone and realized doing so exposed her black and blue arm.
"I crashed into the planet," she said. "It could've been worse. I was able to re-engage the shields and the thrusters."
"She's fortunate. We saw the pod as it fell," Mansr seconded. "It's good you knew a thing or two about configuring a ship, nishani."
A'Ran lifted his chin to his uncle, who bowed in response to the dismissal and left. She glanced over her shoulder as the others left.
"Are you angry?" she asked, returning her gaze to the dhjan. His position didn't change even when they were alone, his gaze direct and hard.
"Not at you," he replied. "What did Ne'Rin say to you before he ejected you from the ship?"
She looked away and cleared her throat, embarrassed to feel tears in her eyes again.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I've never had anyone hate me so much. He seemed to think you'd gone weak and I was the source of your weakness. He said without me, you might win your war." She traced the bruises around her wrists from the bindings. "Are you disappointed with me?"
"I chose you. Anshan chose you."
"Would you choose differently?"
"No, Kiera," he said, voice softening. She crossed her arms, hugging herself.
"I'm so sorry, A'Ran."
"Why are you sorry?"
"You have enough to worry about with all your duties," she replied.
"My family should come before my duties. I'll evacuate you as soon as it's safe."
"I can help you from here," she said. "I can help Mansr battle plan."