His heart leaped ridiculously.
"But not a Witch," said gorgeous Isodel.
Pain, very great physical pain.
"I love you," priceless Isodel went on. "How could I help it? I am a woman and I love the father image. You are my father—symbolically, fortunately, not biologically. You held the sane part of me while Gordus dragged off the unsane part. You gave me—this me—birth. I love you. But I don't love your dog."
"My dog?" said Hammen.
"No woman can marry a man and his dog."
"I see," said Hammen, seeing it all, and living.
You could see everything about yourself and live. It wasn't easy, but you could do it. Especially if you had the training and experience of being a Companion. Or a Witch.
"It would kill Lad to separate him from me for long, you know," Hammen said.