[She can feel, rather than see, him nodding, all shaky, as he continues to hold her.]

I don't know if we'll get out. I think -- surely we must. It's only a door. But Istredd is in with us, and Ambrose is gone, I don't know where, and Strange and Yennefer. No one still in the castle can break the wards on the door, not yet. I don't know what awaits us if we do get out. I don't know what awaits you where you are.

[He doesn't know what else is coming. Gods willing, this is all, and it will be over soon enough, and they will be safe soon enough.

A firm, tight squeeze, and he kisses her hair before pulling back enough to look at her.]

Claire, I love you. Know that. I don't really want to be apart from you. I'll talk to you every day, if I can. [He means if he lives, though the situation isn't so dire as that -- not yet.] All I'll do is think of you -- it's bloody dull here. Stone walls everywhere you look. But for now, we have food, water, places to sleep.

[His bed is a hard piece of the floor, rather cold, but no matter.]

A message like today, and we meet when we can. All right?