"Then let us both hope," Nikolai replied and let the matter drop. It wouldn't do either of them any good to keep pushing her for information when she wasn't willing to give it. Perhaps, one day, she might enlighten him. Or maybe she wouldn't. That choice would be hers. He wasn't going to make it for him because it sounded like she'd had enough of that already.
He watched her in confusion as she began to stand and then he was quickly on his feet, reaching to steady her. "Hey, hey," he said, "take it easy, there. Where are you trying to go? Let's sit for a little longer, have some water, and I'll make sure you get home all right."