"But how do you control it?"
She shrugged her lovely shoulders. "You may be fit to learn—later." But she spoke doubtfully.
The food was unfamiliar but satisfying, warmed in a matter of seconds in an oven-like box to which he could see no power connections or controls. In reply to his questions she pointed to a hexagonal red crystal set in the back of the box and looked at him as though he should understand.
One of the foods was a sort of meat, and with only one arm Eldon found himself in difficulty. Krasna noticed, took his eating utensils and cut it into bite-sized bits. She said nothing, but he finished the meal in sullen silence, resentful that he needed a woman's help even to eat.
Afterwards Krasna buckled on her heavy belt with the dagger swinging at her hip.
"I must go out now," she said. "The not-quite-men of the Faith are prowling tonight, and Luvans are with them."
"But—?"
"You could not help."
The reminder of his uselessness rankled, but still he felt a pang at the thought of a girl like her going into danger.
"But you?" he asked.