"Room," Jian Li corrected.
Eir repeated:
"Room."
Jian Li nodded and gestured for her to follow.
"Yours while you're here."
Eir stood still for a moment.
"Mine?"
"Temporarily."
Eir looked at Damon.
"Is that normal?"
"More or less."
"Explain."
Damon put his hands in his pockets.
"You use the space. No one enters without warning. You can keep your things there. Sleep, if you want. Be alone."
Eir became serious.
"Alone."
"Yes."
"By choice."
"Usually."
She seemed to like that answer.
Jian Li opened the door.
The room was simple.
A bed against the wall, a small table, chair, wardrobe, water pitcher and a window overlooking part of the courtyard.
And the pot of soil.
Eir entered slowly.
First she looked at the bed.
Then the window.
Then the table.
Only then did she notice the pot.
She approached.
Touched the soil with the tip of her finger.
Stopped.
Damon looked at Jian Li.
"Don't say anything."
"I wasn't going to."
"Your face."
She smiled.
