The rational explanation would be that he'd misunderstood somewhere along the way and the other man meant something else, but Thorfinn put that conclusion in jeopardy by agreeing that the time he was talking about was a part of the distant past. He knew it, but he still believed it? Jess didn't have an explanation for that. Not a satisfactory one. Not one grounded in the immutable rules of how the world worked that he'd grown up with.

Thorfinn's crestfallen reaction made him feel worse for asking. Loss transcended language and was something everyone could understand, Jess included.

However, before he could apologize for dredging up memories better left alone, the man's companion on the other end of the table made the decision to interject--with a bang like a judge's gavel. Jess watched the exchange in silence, glancing between them. The clear distinction between "us" and "them" was pointed, and Jess knew it wasn't the right time to speak up.