[ Vax is silent for a moment, letting all of that sink in. He knows there are aspects of this tale his sister is trying very hard to soften for him. But it's still easy to understand what's gone unsaid. They fought a dragon. They must have fought Grog's herd. These can't have been easy battles. And Percy... ]

That's why he asked when I found him here.

[ And Vax hadn't understood why then. ]

I thought he was just shocked that we were here. I didn't think he was asking because he was on the brink of death.

[ Vengeance wouldn't be enough. ]

I couldn't save him?

[ What would one more deal for his soul be, set against Percy's life? ]