Eihr was silent for long moments, thinking. Tristan had offered to speak to the Being in the dreaming world on his behalf. He understood that Tristan was trying to be kind. But Tristan did not seem to understand that offering a favor to Eihr was the same as offering him money.
Eihr had tried to explain. Was it that Tristan did not understand? Or was it that he, Eihr, did not? Was he complicating things once more?
He remained silent for a monent longer.
Finally he said, "Tristan, I think I require some time to think. I, I would like to accept your offer. But I really do not have much of value to offer in return."
"It does overwhelm me," he said, "When you offer me things. I understand that you do it because you are trying to be kind." He understood in theory. "But that does not mean that I am able to accept."
"I think I need to find some way to quantify our relationship," he said.
There were differences between them. Eihr was aware of that. The reason they misunderstood one another, he thought, lay, at least in part, in their definition of relationship. Eihr thought of a relationship as an equation, with each side perfectly balanced. And to Eihr, their relationship was not balanced.
Tristan thought of a relationship as something different. Something that Eihr found to be indefinable.
Brothers, he thought, as if the word might clarify.
"Perhaps we can speak again soon," he said. But he understood now that Tristan needed time to grieve. And Eihr needed time to think.
Eihr had tried to explain. Was it that Tristan did not understand? Or was it that he, Eihr, did not? Was he complicating things once more?
He remained silent for a monent longer.
Finally he said, "Tristan, I think I require some time to think. I, I would like to accept your offer. But I really do not have much of value to offer in return."
"It does overwhelm me," he said, "When you offer me things. I understand that you do it because you are trying to be kind." He understood in theory. "But that does not mean that I am able to accept."
"I think I need to find some way to quantify our relationship," he said.
There were differences between them. Eihr was aware of that. The reason they misunderstood one another, he thought, lay, at least in part, in their definition of relationship. Eihr thought of a relationship as an equation, with each side perfectly balanced. And to Eihr, their relationship was not balanced.
Tristan thought of a relationship as something different. Something that Eihr found to be indefinable.
Brothers, he thought, as if the word might clarify.
"Perhaps we can speak again soon," he said. But he understood now that Tristan needed time to grieve. And Eihr needed time to think.
