Chapter 164: ---

¬ HILN 

"What does what mean?" I returned as gently as I could. "You understand it, do you not?"

"Ah… no… yes?" he answered with a slow smile that took over his lips. Then he shook his head. The woman stared harder at the document. "It looks very familiar to one of the nation's old languages—but this appears to be an even older dialect." He returned the stone to my grasp and his eyes focused on me. "In hindsight, I do not understand it. Sadly, I wish I could." He shook his head with a slightly sullen look. "That would bring a smile to your lovely face, wouldn't it?" 

"You said you understood it," Fashire prodded, but his eyes were fixed on the woman whose attention still lingered on the stone.

Gyasi wasn't too aware as he was entirely focused on me.