It was agony and despair and fear. It was joy and laughter and rest. It was life, all of it, and as that darkness lunged for Chaol and Yrene, he did not fear it. He only looked toward the dark and smiled. Not broken. Made anew. And when the darkness beheld him … Chaol slid a hand against its cheek. Kissed its brow. It loosened its grip and tumbled back into that pit. Curled up on that rocky floor and quietly, carefully, watched him.
