"I'm certainly coming up with several," Krem said, a wistful note in his voice. It was probably unsafe to become so attached, in a place that could so easily take from people. He'd seen how it ruined Blue, and Ronan.

He did not think of himself as, particularly, a reason to find Darrow otherwise endearing or desirable. But that was likely the soldiering. He had fixed himself as an object of transience for nearly half his life now. His lot was meant to be discarded in the end.

But it was nice, he supposed, to end up a facet.