He's avoided making a lot of assumptions, but she says they're pieces and he begins to slot things into place. His mouth tightens into a thin line. He has so many questions and he's already dreading her withdrawing information like she always does.

"Did they come here voluntarily? Even though they were nearly dead?" he asks, tilting his head slowly at her. He looks at her for just a moment, and then past her, counting the pedestals with a little twitch of his eyes for each one.

"Are we the seals?"