Alain is quiet for several long moments before answering. At last, he says in a low voice, "Trouble's relative, isn't it? I don't expect to live past tomorrow, in my own place. I didn't expect to see Roland alive and aged so far, either. I watched thirteen men I was in command of shot down this morning, was riding back to warn Ro' we were outnumbered fifty to one. Hard to be frightened of trouble ahead, when that's all in account."