Noctisardor Bypass anything at all to keep me close to you

a muscle leapt in his cheek. "you and i vere mauled. sequoia was not present to help. vylla vas barely spared. alesund and druid ran avay; vhere do you intend to draw the strength to march upon ursus as they did us? do you not see that ve have no choice but to barter vith that — pestilence?"
"he vanted you," the graf harshly reminded laurel, amethyst eyes hardening to chips of purple stone. "and he spared you and took the children instead. vhy?"
what had happened in that cave? 
the man let out his breath, afraid to speak more lest he truly utter something that was not able to be taken back. "he is unpredictable. we will rely on that if nothing else. we do not have a choice," he reiterated, drawing into himself and sharply away from laurel with the slam of a steelmade door.