[ Claire has never had anyone to talk to in-depth about this sort of thing before, who had anything even remotely like what she experienced in their world. And so she hangs onto every word Claude is saying. ]

Is it science? Or is it magic?

[ Both? At his question, her face flickers through a range of emotions. Her face is like glass, it always has been. There's confusion and apprehension, mixed with a wariness that briefly crosses her features before settling on confusion. ]

That's the thing. I've only just met John from my perspective. Just once; he helped my husband escape a likely execution. But after that, we were sailing someplace thousands of miles away from him, so I'm not unsure how we cross paths again.

[ No need to mention that John is in love with her husband and that he's also raising Jamie's son with another woman. Claire doesn't even want to think about it. ]

He had an injury when he arrived [ Caused by Jamie's fist ] that I tended to briefly while I was helping in Nocwich, at the makeshift medical area in the square. We spoke at length, but I've asked him not to tell me anything crucial about myself. Not yet, in any case.

[ Claire pauses to look at Claude. ]

What would you do?