He senses that moment of hesitation, even if she is otherwise reserved about it. He understands why. He misses it every day - and the idea that she's been here her entire life chills him.

He feels really bad for her, but he doesn't dare say so. What place does he have to be expressing sympathies over that, right now?

"Is... the Lord of Conflagration your dad?" he asks, hesitantly. His understanding of changelings is based mostly on his own.