Childermass nods. He had expected such a response from the other man, but had asked to hear it in his own words. "Near as I was able to see, there was but one participant in this act," he notes, glancing sideways at the other man. "A woman. Fae woman. She did not appear to act unkind towards the boy, if that should make a difference at all."

He pauses a beat, before admitting, "Perhaps I may have been able to stop her, but I admit, not knowing if there were others who may have been lying in wait, it would have been a risk. One such that I was not willing to take. To wind up with both of us dead would have helped no one."