"I hope you're telling the truth," Bariyan said.

So many implications in so few words: that he didn't fully believe Koltira, that he didn't fully trust Koltira, that he still saw Koltira as a threat. He wished otherwise on all of these things, but he had to be reasonable.

Bariyan turned back, shoulders drawn tense, already feeling drained and in need of a drink. He gave Koltira a wretched look. I'm sorry.