Valdis listened, her eyes not rising from the book, though she processed every word the girl said. Finally, when Pepper was done speaking, Valdis closed the book and set it down, lifting her eyes to look at Pepper.

"I'm sorry, Pepper." She said, her voice soft, understanding. She didn't reach out or move, but she let Pepper's pain wash over her, feeling it as strongly as the girl felt it. "I wouldn't have blamed you for killing him, test or not, but I'm glad you didn't. You aren't a killer."