"It only came up last night, and we did not think it would be a good thing to burden Ash with just before a journey," 'Iheyu explained. "Especially as it is far from a certain thing. Ni'ka and I talked him into 'wait and see', and that might be easier now with a few hours' sleep under him. I hope so; he will not leave if I don't, and until Ash has been back for a while I won't know enough to decide."
"You won't hear anything negative about Ash from me," Rick said. "First, she's...how do you call it? My mate?"
'Iheyu smiled a bit. "And you have been a most devoted mate," she said. "I have no experience with Tawtute pairs, but if you two are any indication? --They can't be much different from ours. The looks, the touches, the tones of voice; the affection; the urge to protect... You will find these under any Tree of Voices months or years before Tsaheylu comes into it."
"Second," Rick continued, "I seem to know a different Ash than you; and third, as a human I might see some things differently than you do."
'Iheyu stood up again and wrapped her arms around her torso, beginning to pace. "Aiee, and there's the trouble! You know a different person than we do, because she is an entirely different person with you than she is with anyone else."
She stopped and breathed deeply, seeming to draw up something from within herself, then settled back into a squat and regarded Rick with hurt in her eyes. "There are any number of reasons why a person might not show all of herself to others, most of them quite valid and many having to do with fear. Is she afraid of us, Rick? Can't she trust us? If not, then is it good for anyone that we are here?"