[ The breath that punches out of him tries to be amused, rueful, but he can't stop the swirl of guilt beneath it. ]

Maelle? Not much chance of that.

[ His fearless sister? The one who ran over rooftops as lightly as a bird in flight? Who took to the rapier like she was born to it? Who would rather duel for dominance than settle an argument with words? ]

...I should never have agreed to let her come. I should have tried harder to get her to stay in Lumiere.