He knew it. This was a bad story. And it wasn't completely told just. Just the shell. There were so many indentations to it, places where people could get lost. And Pell. His death had changed the world.

Flick tried to continue, distance himself from the story the way he had when he had told it to Itzama, but he still couldn't help think, 'I'm sorry, now you both will be tainted too'. " Thiede was using Saltrock as a recruiting ground for the Gelaming. Orien summoned him when you came." Flick's mouth twitched. " He had a fit when you died, I think. He said, 'it's done'. Cal thought it was all Orien's fault. And it was senseless. Orien didn't need to die, because I you're not dead Pell." He let Pell hold him, not sure of what else he could bring his body to do, or what Pell could do. They were both in shock. "We were all used. Puppet strings deep inside. I can still feel the hooks." Little did Flick know, just yet, that in running from Thiede's clutches, he ran into someone just as bad.

Flick looked at Cole, thankful he could no longer see the knife. It made telling the horrible story easier. "I know you did. It's a bad story, it can't be contained. It's not your fault."