For a moment, Abrial's mother stared, eyes bulging from their sockets. Her mouth moved like she had something to say, but in the end, she closed it firmly, and her face hardened. She gripped her stormy robes and sat back in her large chair, gazing coldly at her daughter, who was lazing above on the window seat.
"Why have you returned?" she said simply and shortly.
Something inside Abrial clenched, and her smile wavered. She crushed the feeling down immediately. Maybe some part of her had been hoping that her mother would show some happiness, or shed a tear, or tremble a little, or something after seeing her again…but that was silly, right? Stupid. Her mother had never shown her affection. Why would she be happy to see the daughter who had not only run away from home, but to whom she was always cold in the first place?
