There's a soft whine from Garahel, sad that he can't do more. He returns to them, pausing before Anders to let him take the nug toy from his mouth. Inessa bends down to stroke his head. "You tried, Garahel. That's all we can ask of you."

Straightening, she sighs. "I still have some of the books from the caves. They were Circle tomes, and I didn't want to leave them among such filth. Maybe I should have, though. Some were written in, notes in the margins, research that somehow helped them do...that, however indirectly. I don't know whether to bury them or turn them in so that researchers can anticipate what others might try."