'Yes,' said Laurent. 'All too literally.' It was difficult to feel sadness when Damen smiled at him so, but still Laurent felt a pang for his poor captain. 'Jord loved him. Even after the betrayal, he plead for him. Aimeric did his work well. All he needed was one good man, and he selected perhaps the best of them.'

He was quiet for a moment. 'He should have been hung for that alone.' Breathing in, Laurent folded a hand over Damen's, though he made no move to stop his work at his collar. 'You mean to distract me.'