Percy doesn't answer, though, just takes in Vax'ildan's face and tries not to think about the last time he saw it. What had he meant to say? It seems frivolous now, something unnecessary. Or something too heavy. He said goodbye thinking - knowing - that he would never really see this man again. And knowing that, despite everything, it is his fault that Vax'ildan offered himself to the Raven Queen in the first place.

Faced now with his brother-in-law, Percy doesn't actually know what to say. So he swallows thickly and looks down, breaking Vax's gaze.

"Is this really you?"