"We had visitors?"

"Yes," Ramge replied. There was an odd hint of a smile on his face, one that Mahar hadn't seen since...

No, that didn't matter.

Ramge's explanation about them having been sent by the King of Wasted Red seemed like it was eliding more than one important detail, but Mahar didn't press.

"They learned the lesson they needed to learn," Ramge said after a pause. The statement was neutral but Mahar felt it like a thousand daggers anyway.

He had finally learned his as well. Ramge had saved him, barely, and he had lived, barely.

That monster...

"Good."