[ She let him take his time to respond, perfectly happy with the silence. She, herself, had her convictions, after all. They were vital and tightly held, for all that they had cost both her and Calernia. ]

I don't think many of us can be expected to have weighed the fate of not just one world, or land, but innumerable worlds.

We're all out of our depth, dear. I'm resolved to rise to the occasion, no matter what it would be. The cost to do otherwise is far too great.