"But he came here to do it. He is one of the Saadeeyeh."
"He was going to do it even if I hadn't taken the serpent?"
"Of course."
"I don't believe that. He did it because he was angry with the serpent for not hurting me, for letting me take it."
"As you please," he said. "What does it matter?"
She glanced at him, and sat down. The expression in his eyes soothed her, the new look that she could read. Had it been called up by her courage with the serpent? She wondered if, by her impulsive action, she had grasped something in him which till now had seemed to elude her. Nevertheless, although her mood was changing, the sense of personal outrage had not completely died out of her.
"There really are other serpent eaters?" she asked.
"Of course. Saadees."
"And that man is one? But he hated my taking the serpent."
"But I did not hate it."