"I know." He gives Susan a small smile, hardly a curve of one corner of his lips at all. Her hand is warm at his back, but he can hardly feel it.

"And I thank you all. But this is not a trouble we can fight; not those of us here. I'm afraid there's very little we might be able to do, aside from keep Rilian comfortable as as happy as possible while he's here, and to hope things have not been set awry by my meddling."