Memories are more vivid by this point in Fakir's vigil. The Prince and the Raven's illustration of the Knight, his body torn in two by the Raven, flashes into Fakir's mind and stays there.

Oddly, the image doesn't hurt any more. The Raven hasn't killed Fakir yet.

Fakir nods shortly. His neck is stiff. "But did Drosselmeyer write happy endings even when he was paid for it? What I mean is, is it even possible to spin a story that isn't a tragedy?"