If I’m chasing the wrong thing, what I’m chasing will end up chasing me. And in the end, I’m less likely to be the one doing the catching.

The dark might be dark, but at least we don’t have to look at ourselves when we’re standing in it.

Soon he essentially stopped talking. 'I am retreating into silence as a defensive mode,' he mentioned. Eventually, he was down to uttering just five words, and only to guards: yes; no; please; thank you. 'I am surprised,' he wrote, 'by the amount of respect this garners me. That silence intimidates puzzles me. Silence is to me normal, comfortable.' Later he added, 'I will admit to feeling a little contempt for those who can't keep quiet.

Coordinating the retreat was important too, so important that Jiaan had assigned Aram as Fasal's assistant, to be sure he didn't overlook anything important. Like the fact that they were supposed to retreat.