As casual as that sounded, Tatehan realized it shattered Lyra's hope of hearing something good. Maybe she was expecting that he said that Kael handed it over to him before he died. But that didn't seem to be the case.
Tatehan had instead replied that he picked it on the floor when the man died.
"Oh," Lyra said, her hands clenched into fists on the table.
And then, without warning, tears began to slide down her cheeks.
Her act of crying was silent.
Tatehan felt guilty seeing her weep, perhaps he shouldn't have brought the matter up in the first place.
He stood quickly, moving around the table to sit beside her. He hesitated for a moment, unsure if she'd want him close, but then she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest.
Tatehan wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently as she cried.
He didn't say anything. There was nothing to say.
Kael was gone. And no amount of feeling guilty could bring him back.
So Tatehan just held her, letting her grieve.
