"After two thousand uses of the skill the effect of this fruit will wear off, so be aware of that, but that is a significant window."
She tossed the apple toward him.
He caught it, which was automatic, and then held it in his hand and looked at it with the appropriate level of caution for something thrown at him by a person he had met thirty seconds ago.
Shadow watched him look at it and made a sound that was the same light laugh as before.
"If I intended to harm you I would not need a fruit to do it." She said, with the particular patience of someone explaining something obvious without making the person feel foolish for needing the explanation.
"Research it if you want. Eat it when you feel comfortable. Either way."
She began to stand, and Neil spoke before she could finish the motion.
"The people who died." He said. "The ones near the places I had visited. The old woman from the market. The restaurant. All of them."
Shadow stilled and looked at him.
