"The cost..." Marica placed an elbow on the table and propped her chin up. She'd been starting to think that the cost had been his happiness, but it was still too early to say. Besides, he didn't seem as "sad" as, say, "troubled".

"You know, to be honest," she said, her gaze drifting upward in thought, "Jale and I might not know you well enough to be able to tell if you're really missing something. Worse comes to worst, we might have to wait until we're back home. Maybe Hafin or Nakil... or even Chrodechild will be able to tell."