"Good. That's good." He softens his tone, if only by a fraction. He doesn't mean to upset her, but he does need to make something very clear, and right this very instant.

"You don't owe me anything, Azkadellia. I know what happened when you were a girl, in the cave. I know your sister, through her young age and love of adventure, got you in a bind. I don't blame her for what happened, and I certainly don't blame you. She was just a child, and so were you."

His eyes burn again, his heart going out to the children that the sisters were and the struggling young woman before him. His thumbs work softly over her knuckles, trying to soothe.

"Now, I know what it's like to be trapped against my will, and unable to do anything about it. I know. It wasn't your fault. None of what happened, or came after. You were a prisoner just as much as I was."