[No, Hwylryn wasn't his friend. He was something...more than that. But saying that out loud, even to himself, felt too risky. And certainly Hickey wouldn't understand--would just scoff.]

He only attacked you because he thought he was defending me. And I'm sorry about that--I didn't want him to go after you. I wish he hadn't. When I told him about our agreement, he decided he was going to be angry even when I said it was my choice.

[His shoulders slump slightly as he thinks about the fallout of that entire debacle. So many things were said that night.]

...he's just impulsive, and sensitive. I'm neither of those things, so it's better if I do it.