"You're not going to accept, right?" Friya asked.
"You have a deal." Nalrond offered his clawed hand to the Horseman, and when she shook it, he did everything he could to squash it like a bug.
"Good." Dawn returned the grip a split second later, releasing it only when the Agni tapped out.
"Are you insane? Why?" Friya asked in disbelief.
"Because Meln already tried to kill your mother, Friya." Nalrond replied. "Because he hates Jirni and won't hesitate to kill you or Quylla just to get to Lith. Meln is crazy and a threat to your family. My family.
"I hate Dawn for what she did to my village, but I'll be damned if I let my pride get in the way of protecting you all. I don't want you to end up like me, Friya. You are my present, and I don't want to lose everything we could build together in the future because I'm stuck in the past.
"You heard Dawn. She *was* my enemy. Night, instead, *is* my enemy, yours, and Dawn's. Until we get rid of Meln, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
