"I could not bear", Val said - his voice only slightly broken, but the light on his hands glowing in a feverish pulse. "I could not bear... to hear you call me by the name which is not mine. When I first agreed to this apprenticeship, I thought I could... I thought you never needed to know. I was wrong".

"But that -- but that -- that --". Adrien swallowed and gasped for air; he felt his hands becoming cold with sweat. "Val, why --".

"-- I know, don't tell me", Val said, his voice broken. He stepped away from the table and turned away from Adrien; he let out a small, trembling sob. "I am well aware that it was reckless of me... You could have used my name against me", he said. "You could have bound me, and you could have destroyed my life, had you wished so... I know". He turned around; his eyes were wet with tears. "But I could not bear".