Dain intercedes, and Tuo presses his lips into a thin line, adopting silence. He is not surprised by Dain's words, or his tone--and mercifully, he doesn't argue. Instead he stands by quietly as Dain speaks to Vervain, his expression only softening when his young friend's anguish and confusion manifests itself in his expression, his voice.

(How is there anything of the gods, anything divine, in this kind of pointless torment?)

"The gods don't demand that you change who you are." He says the words with incredible gentleness, stepping forward to touch his friend's shoulder. "Only that you don't hurt anyone with your gifts. And you haven't hurt anyone, Vervain."