Ahir's shoulders suddenly went stiff. That wasn't possible. Or else, it was an impossible coincidence. He hadn't heard that name in a little over six years, and he'd certainly never owned a place of his own. Particularly not like this.

Another Alec, surely. It was a common enough name, he supposed. Perhaps not in Plenimar, but Skala or Mycena were possibilities.

But Ahir had an honest face, and he'd always been just a touch too trusting.

"That used to be my name," he said quietly. "Not in a very long time. But I don't know what a toaster is, and I don't know this place."

Ahir turned to watch Seregil wander. He didn't seem like a dangerous person. If Ahir had leave to make these sort of assumptions, he'd go so far as to call the man kind. Perhaps if he could appeal to reason--

"You really have no memory of coming here? You don't have to pretend. I promise you, I'm not important enough to keep secrets from."