"She told you about them?" Tobin blinked behind his spectacles, then gave Hana a vaguely astonished look. "He's really not just a tumble then."
Cheeks flushing with a combination of embarrassment and irritation, she snapped, "I told you that already."
"Yes, yes." He waved a hand at her dismissively. "Forgive me if I don't always take your word for such things."
"Gods, Tobin, you make it sound like I'm some sort of--!"
"Well, I suppose you're welcome," the hermit cut across her with a brisk nod for Thrax. "Honestly, she's more trouble than she's worth--but if you care for her that much, then you already know that." He sipped at his tea, then huffed, "S'good thing she found you. I was starting to worry she wouldn't find anyone who could tolerate her once I'm gone."
Though the words were harsh, Hana heard the slight softening and sincerity in his tone--maybe he really had been worried that she spent so much of her life alone. It was enough to keep her from snapping something annoyed back at him, at any rate.