“Precisely,” Francel replies. “It doesn’t matter. It never did.”

With obstinate cruelty, he turns his back on Felih’s tears; he has no heart for them, indeed no heart at all. The Warrior of Light might well have clawed Francel’s heart out alongside the valorous Ser Zephirin’s.

“Tell yourself whatever lies you’d like,” he says. “Pretend I have forgiven everything, if that is what you wish. Only leave me in peace.”