Cara almost would have preferred Surreal stabbing her again to all this kindness and understanding. Almost. It was simpler and easier to deal with.

"She...I was gentle, and kind, and soft-hearted, and...loved. Happy," she said, not meeting Surreal's eyes. "But I look at her and I don't remember being those things, how they felt, just how it felt to lose them bit by bit as the Mord'Sith took my weakness and made me strong." There was far less conviction in her voice than the time she'd said that last part to Richard.

"They taught me to be hard, and angry, and cruel, and told me they loved me, and sometimes I was happy." She shrugged. "So if I'm her, I'm also the ribkicker. That's who I was for longer."