"I did, yes," Tahiri answered, and she didn't need to think about that. "I suppose, as of now, I still do. Back then, at the Academy, before the war started, it was awfully hard not to like him. He was thoughtful, and always kind to everyone, and always making the most awful jokes ever, and it was just . . ."

Still hard to figure out exactly how he'd gone from that to what he would become. She had a few ideas, but the contrast was so stark it made her lose the heart to try.

"He was comfortable to be around. It isn't any wonder at all that he would be the one to get Ben to come out of his shell."