He had embraced this altered Bariyan before – that whole, freed aspect of himself held no resentments, doubts, or anger over what had happened, simply accepting it as Time's course and their role in it ever-changing. But it was different, there in the flesh, a boy. A boy who felt the way other humans did – a boy who opened his eyes with life again and felt tears stinging in them right away.

This Bariyan forgot– His head did a bit of a quiver, like shaking a buzzing insect away from his ear. No, never knew me. It wasn't something to resent, by no means, but...but it still left him very far from happy. How everyone had been changing, and him hardly...

And now hastened apologies, not an unfamiliar thing between them, but certainly not in the voice it came from. Things were changing too much. Martin had to be quick to speak in turn – not something he was ever very good at.

"No–" He felt his voice crack and winced a little, swallowing, exhaling loudly to clear his throat. "No, it's all right." It's all right, child. "You can stay. You can look. I was just surprised..."