Lion Head Mesa thirty-ninth

Toula knew who to believe. there was no question about it, and her eyes did not turn away from him as Zaahira spoke. she blinked slowly, and only said, answer me this: do you care to earn my trust?
she could grasp all of the reasons why Zaahira thought as she did, and did not blame her for them. it could be said that she thought along those same lines. but they had also brought him before her for a reason, and she did not think it to waste her time—
her gaze openly searched him for what they might see in him, to see it for herself. he lied to survive, she told herself. what a life he must have endured beneath the thumb of Khaba. 
the rest, though, depended on him… and what sort of life he now might hope to lead.