"That's just what I remember hearing," Fendros responded to Ahnasha. "I've not been out that far west."

After peering out to spot the light of the Silent City, Ariel exhaled and allowed her raised brow to finally relax before it could get sore. "Well, I'd hate to sound grumpy, but all this information at once has given me a good reason to go and rest." She took Rukeewei's hand. "This is more than anyone could have bargained for. How exactly did you find this place?"

"Mora told us," Sabine explained. "He gave us a key."

Ariel scrunched her eyes and ran a hand down her face. "On a second thought, I shall leave that question for tomorrow."

Janius laughed and spoke to the pack. "We ought to spare Ariel and Rukeewei for now. There will be plenty of time to explain things on the way."

Now that she had forced her wits back, Ariel strode away a few paces with Rukeewei in hand and stopped to stand close in front of him. She looked into his eyes with some worry for his fear. "How are you coping, darling?" She murmured.

[hr]
Gallus threw up one hand. "They can be connected, they can be reborn all they like. I don't see why they should have such contempt for a young life!" He jerked his face up to see Ri'vashi. For the first time, Ri'vashi saw Gallus' face in a state of pure fury. "It was just like that!" He clapped his hands. "Be reborn! Forget any other chance! You don't matter! You-" He shut his mouth and threw the cloth onto the stone floor.

"I apologise..." he said in a far calmer voice. He sighed heavily through his nose and leant forward again. "I just...he might have thought differently had I gone straight there from Elsweyr. He mightn't have given up. I'm angry at the Hist, I'm angry at him, his uncle -- Oblivion -- I'm angry at myself as well for blowing up in front of him about it. I failed. I failed my promise." He brought a hand up to cover one side of his face. "I failed the one thing that might have redeemed all those horrible things that happened to Dar-tzesa and Yizan-lei. I can't think about any of it without losing my temper."