'I'm not,' Tayrey answers, her voice softening. 'I agreed by contract to be here. To make this place my purpose. My payment for that will be to be returned to my old life. To my home and my people, like I always wanted.'
Any other Tradeliner would question the validity of a contract to which the alternative is death, but for Ari Tayrey, in pain, utterly exhausted, death had been a very viable option. She had made the choice to live carefully, consciously. It had not been a quick decision.
'I don't expect it'll be easy, but we were hardly in a strong negotiating position, and at least here we have a chance. At least we're free.' She sighs. 'I'll help you look for him, and if he's not here then maybe... maybe that means that the life you'll be sent to when you fulfil your contract here is your life with him. I don't know how they decided which of us to invite here.'
She pauses, giving Ava a searching look. 'You won't be alone. I-'
It's her fault that Ava was parted from the man she loved, and Tayrey can say whatever she likes about how that prison of a bubble universe was collapsing anyway, but she was still the catalyst. That's a debt, arguably, and Ava's lack of hostility towards her means that it's a debt she's starting to feel.
'Look, are you hungry? Can I get you a plate of food from over there? We can sit on the grass and eat together.' She's guessing Ava won't want to join the busy gathering.
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Any other Tradeliner would question the validity of a contract to which the alternative is death, but for Ari Tayrey, in pain, utterly exhausted, death had been a very viable option. She had made the choice to live carefully, consciously. It had not been a quick decision.
'I don't expect it'll be easy, but we were hardly in a strong negotiating position, and at least here we have a chance. At least we're free.' She sighs. 'I'll help you look for him, and if he's not here then maybe... maybe that means that the life you'll be sent to when you fulfil your contract here is your life with him. I don't know how they decided which of us to invite here.'
She pauses, giving Ava a searching look. 'You won't be alone. I-'
It's her fault that Ava was parted from the man she loved, and Tayrey can say whatever she likes about how that prison of a bubble universe was collapsing anyway, but she was still the catalyst. That's a debt, arguably, and Ava's lack of hostility towards her means that it's a debt she's starting to feel.
'Look, are you hungry? Can I get you a plate of food from over there? We can sit on the grass and eat together.' She's guessing Ava won't want to join the busy gathering.