Lanfear knows only to take his words at face value; too many people would just as soon betray each other or pull out the metaphorical knife to stab another in the back than do anything honorable. Men, in particular, have their own ulterior motives, and it's for that reason alone she knows she can't underestimate him.

But her hand remains secure in his, and her smile appears soft and genuine when she lifts her chin to regard him directly.

"I thought that would be the case as soon as I laid eyes on you, Lalo. But the pieces of yourself you shared with me in the springs proved that my suspicions were correct." Her smile adopts a more private quality then, a light flush in her cheeks that references their other pursuit in the springs, the pleasures they'd experienced together.