[ Silly, she says. As before, he doesn’t follow.

Certainly, the restorative nature of contact is better than anything man-made so long as they stay in the city. He has seen what the so-called healer’s touch has done to his brother, though, and is reluctant to rely overmuch on this in untested waters. Whereas she lightens the mood with laughter, he brings it back down with a pensive mien. ]

If the gods heal us for offering contact, there is no guarantee that their blessing will bear the same potency beyond the city’s borders.