[ That's the ideal, isn't it? For no one to die, for there to be peace across the land. It's not even that he disagrees with Thoma on this point, because it's something he himself has wanted for so long. But the longer he stays with the Kenoma and does as the Kenoma - the Regent - asks, the more comfortable he is with taking a few lives in order to achieve the bigger picture.

He almost doesn't answer Thoma. Almost. It's never been his style to engage in arguments he can't win. But he responds anyway, after another bout of silence, his words soft but steady.

Maybe he needs to convince himself as much as Thoma. ]

Don't assume that this is solely about you. That's the mistake we all make, being only able to see what's directly in front of him.

[ He leaves it at that, silent the rest of the way no matter how much Thoma talks, until they make it to the transformed storehouse. ]