"I've never sympathised with them," Alain says flatly. It isn't entirely true - he has quite a lot of sympathy for the rebels here - but he chooses to take the question to refer to the rebels in his own world, to Farson's men. "I'm redeeming myself from not killing enough of the motherfuckers to save my people." His face is hard, uncharacteristically so, and remains so for a moment before he pulls himself back under control.

"Your people like to talk of these Games as a deterrent to war. I don't know the politics of it, but that's something I can fight for. I didn't protect my people, so I'm driven to protect yours. We lost our war, so I don't want the same for others. It might not be much, but it's more believable than some half-baked romance with my d... Roland." Pinching the bridge of his nose, he straightens up. "Are we done?"