Janius did not know what to say. He did not know if there was anything to say in the first place. His eyes lowered when Kaleeth's did and, try as he might, there were no curing words to make anyone feel better. He deferred to saying what was on his mind.

"A sacrifice." he said. "Is that really how they described it?"

[hr]
Again, Calia took a lengthy pause.

"You would enlist him to fight, then?" she asked.

"Yes," Fendros said. "And to provide his experience on fighting Daedra, though we have experts already. He'll be another voice."

"...And Nirn would be at stake?"

"The entirety of Mundus, mother."

Calia cast her eyes down. She was quiet for so long that Fendros' eyes were drawn to the window, where beyond the sounds of the street seeped in. He could only imagine what words or memories she might be recalling from far before he was born. For all the enmity he bore his father, Fendros could not completely remove his curiosity at what such memories told.

Finally, Calia lifted her eyes. She even shifted uncomfortably. "Rossarm...has not fought in many decades," she said slowly, without making eye contact. "There are reasons why. Reasons that are not mine to divulge." She took a breath and held it for a moment. "He will not like this. Of that, I am certain. But he needs this, I think. He has spent too many years in melancholy. He needs to work alongside you. And that is to say nothing of the weight of this situation. Neither he nor I could ever deny that."

Fendros angled his head. "You don't sound very certain."

"That is because I am uncertain, Fendros." Calia responded, almost curtly. "This may bring forth some of the greatest pain I have ever seen your father in. I am doing my very best not to weep, because I know he will suffer even if this is what is best for everyone, not least of which himself." Calia pursed her lips at them both.