For a short while, Dain only stares at Tuo. To be honest, he'd forgotten about the arguments they used to have regarding Tuo's calling. It all comes back in a rush, leaving him very nearly lightheaded, and his reaction turns out to be entirely the opposite of anger -- it's laughter.

Not mean laughter, or dismissive laughter. Quite the contrary, there's flashes in it of the Anja Tuo used to know, a young teenager full of gentle hope and optimism for the future, finding the unanticipated good in nearly any situation he encounters.

"Typerä Tuo," he manages at last, bright and fond, at odds with his words. "It wasn't. It's never the kinder thing, not to know what truly happened. But you're not the reason I became a Shepherd -- unless that would finally convince you that you don't have to do anything on your own."