Roland nods, smiles gratefully, briefly, then puts his hand over Firo's. There's been a lot of that, he realizes, a lot of touching, and Roland finds himself looking at Firo's face, trying to figure out if he minds. But he can't afford to wonder about it right now, with his mind trying to go in so many directions it oughtn't.

"This may be the only time I can explain," he realizes. "Some of it, anyway. A great deal of it. Would you ask? My answers may not make a great deal of sense; maybe Alain can help you decipher them, later. If he's- If he lives. My mind can't visit that time in my life otherwise, Firo, it layers over itself, the memories are... difficult. But now-" He shrugs. "I don't know. If there's anything you'd like to know about me, about all this, best ask it now."