[No worries, Chloe; the wooden floor is sanded and polished, but it's not the nicest stock in the first place. Towards the back -- Martin's space, a separate room entirely, and closed off -- there's a tiny hearth. He drags himself up to start a fire; avoids eye contact.]

Bariyan has returned, but he is not the man I knew. Seviilia does not listen to my commands.

And Ashraf told me --

[It's so absurd. He purses his lips. Mutters.]

He told me that he loved me.