"He won't be forgiven, Ahnasha," Sabine said somewhat more confidently. "And he won't forgive himself. He is only alive because I told him to be. And he has not broken my trust."

Janius was not so easily convinced. "How do you know he isn't just using some kind of ploy?"

Sabine pulled away from Meesei and stood up. Her voice remained choked by tears. "Because Vile sent him to hunt us so he would be killed! All of them would be killed." She lowered her voice, realising herself but still upset. "He is just a loose end. Vile does not care about the war anymore. He has the souls he needs. He was never going to give Rhajul's life back. That was the entire reason Rhajul did everything; to get his family and his life back. And it was horrible. And he knows what he deserves. But I don't care!"

She looked over at Do'rhajul. "After giving the rest of his team to be imprisoned after they turned on Rhajul and Yerig, we went to the island to collect the Rueful Axe. With their help we killed the dragon. Its name was Faasnuhenvokaal. And we found Cyrus' body in a pile. And the axe. I thought..." She lowered her eyes. "...if we got it, you would believe me about Rhajul and Yerig. I want them to help us so they do not have to die having only done awful things."

Fendros and Janius were both stunned to silence.