Sabine's panic grew to the point where she was barely listening to Meesei. She held fast onto the staff. "But I did not!" she cried. "I was still captured! They still..."

When Meesei asked for Sabine's trust, she remained holding onto the staff but she at least went quiet. She forced herself to breathe deeper and more slowly, shivering though she was in doing so. After another long moment, she nodded. "I trust you," she breathed.

Sabine shut her eyes tightly, tensed up her shoulders, and let her fingers uncurl from around the staff. Her arms shook in place, remaining raised where they had been grasping the staff. Meesei saw in Sabine's demeanour a trapped animal. Even if she said she trusted Meesei, she looked like a cornered mouse expecting death, or worse.