Something that was almost a smile.
"That's Cassius," Satou said.
"Yes," Loki said. "That's Cassius."
They sat with it.
The settlement's evening sounds began to come through the walls — the construction crews finishing their day, the kitchen starting the evening meal, the patrol changeover at the outer perimeter.
"Vael'kira is at forty percent," Loki said eventually. "The coloured glass is the slowest part. The craftsmen who produced it were in the seventy percent, so I've had to find new ones." He paused. "They're doing good work. Different hands produce different light through the same shapes. I've decided that's acceptable rather than wrong." Another pause. "It took me three weeks to decide that."
"It's right," Satou said.
"Yes," Loki said. "I know." He looked at the door. "The child — Lyra's pregnancy. How is it progressing."
"Twelve weeks," Satou said. "Morgana was here yesterday. She said it's unprecedented in the way Morgana uses that word."
"Which is as a compliment."
