"It's all about work."
He lied.
The falseness of his voice was so obvious he even despised it himself.
"That's how it is for soldiers, you know that. Border tension, exercises, deployments... it's all routine."
Lana gazed at him, her amber eyes unusually clear under the light.
She didn't counter, didn't question, just watched him quietly like that.
This silence tormented Tor Khan more than any interrogation.
Because she chose to believe, or perhaps she knew he was lying but chose not to expose such a clumsy lie.
"Go take a hot bath."
Finally, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, her warm lips touched briefly and then were gone.
"You look very tired. I've already filled the bathtub with water."
Tor Khan nodded, watching her turn and walk towards the stairs.
The hem of her robe brushed against the wooden steps, making a rustling sound.
Suddenly, he had an impulse to call her back, to tell her everything, to kneel before her and confess his betrayal.
