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All I could think about was the fact this as real, and I was supposed to be leading it Even if it was only supposed to be in spirit, that felt even worse, soet those people killed

Pushing past the barghest, I made my way over to the baythat was the showcase of our rooian square that, bathed in ht, reflected an ordered cal e in his patient way forEventually, I did

"You called me a hero when I faced Graeme I felt like a hero, at that moment But that was personal, and I kept it personal I can’t lead those people to fight ht about what I said, before finally speaking What he ca any of this is about you, Jane"

A h my mind Of course it was about as were going to kill me like they did Joe Gonzalez froed, if only just, to say none of these things Instead I narrowedfor him to continue

"I know it looks like it’s about you, but you’re just like the rest of us--caught up in thisa whole hell of a lot bigger You’re involved, yes, but in the sa, you’re a victi, but he did You didn’t ask for Jakes to get himself murdered in your town, but he did And you didn’t ask to find his body But you did And that’s how you got involved But you didn’t start any of this"

I winced, realizing that Anyan had ed to nail my emotions withthose people, yes But I also felt guilty--a guilt so profound I couldn’t even acknowledge it to ht

"Haven’t I?" I asked, harshly "What if I’d not found that body, and Ryu never came to Rockabill, and Jimmu had killed y head, his grey eyes sad

"No, Jane Your death wouldn’t have changed anything All of this would have happened anyway, and probably faster Up until you ca evil shit because he could and because he had a typical, Alfar-purist agenda But it’s never been just about Jarl, Jane He’s part of so to do with us

"Think about it," he continued, when I frowned "Think of what’s happened in the past few months Has any of it really been about Jarl, at all?"

I thought, as he’d asked, and then I said, "No It’s been about Morrigan, hasn’t it?"

"Yes," he said "Morrigan has been in the shadows, this whole tiht it was about Jarl, but it’s really been about Morrigan, the Red, and the White And none of us had a clue For all we know, she orchestrated all Jarl’s crazy just to serve as cover for what she was doing with the relics Or her madness infected him Who knows"

"But what does that have to do with the people we met in that rooan We’ve all been put into a position we don’t want to be in, because of Morrigan We’ve all been forced to take on new roles, because of Morrigan

"So now you need to ask yourself," he said, "What you want that role to be"

"I don’t have a choice," I said, frustration lacingthat stupid ax"

"No," Anyan said, and his voice was adamant "You’ve always had choices, Jane I said earlier that you were made into a victim by Jarl But is that what you remained?"

I’d made a face when Anyan had said the word "victim," and I suddenly started to understand

"I’ a hero, yet, either"

"I think we’re all gonna have to be heroes, if Morrigan gets her way and resurrects the Red and the White Otherwise, we’re all fucked--hus in that rooht, it wasn’t because of Jane True It wasn’t even really because you have an ax, or you’re called a chaht have made them feel a little more hopeful, but they volunteered because they know their history, and they knoill happen to everyone they love if Morrigan gets her way"

"It’s not aboutit