Page 72 of The Outcast
With a bit of hesitation, she took his hands.
“Ask her questions about you,” Athena encouraged him.
“All right.” Thor thought for a second. “Do I like carrots?”
Linea closed her eyes and took a deep breath while we were all quiet. “Yes.”
“Do I like the color blue?”
“Yes.”
“Orange.”
“Neutral. I sense no dislike or like.”
“Fair enough. Do I like to fly?”
“Yes.”
“Do I…” Thor looked around and his gaze landed on the windows. “Do I like the outdoors?”
“Yes.”
“These questions are too easy,” I interjected.
“Okay, but then what do I ask?”
Linea opened her eyes. “You could always let me ask.”
They held eye contact for a long moment before he lowered his chin in a hesitant nod.
“Could you embrace the French culture?”
“Maybe, but I doubt it.”
“Do you think you are better than others?”
Thor arched a brow. “Depends on who the others are.”
“Me. Do you think that you’re better than me?”
“Nooo…” His answer was drawn out and didn’t sound convincing.
Linea firmly declared, “Untrue.”
Thor defended himself. “Again, that depends on what we’re talking about. I’m a better athlete and much stronger than you. I would argue that I’m better in a lot of ways.”
“Do you feel that you’re a better person than me?”
“I’m raised to feel superior to Motlanders.”
“You arenot!” I protested. “Pearl hasn’t raised you to feel superior to anyone.”
“My mom wasn’t always around and I’m also my father’s son,” Thor said matter-of-factly while giving Athena a quick smile. “No offense. You Motlanders are just a bit soft for our taste.”
“You’re lying to yourself,” Linea said in a level tone. “You don’t think that you’re better than me as a person.”
With a deep frown, Thor met her head on. “Then you can’t read me very well. I do!”
