"No. Wiser, maybe, but I wouldn't. I'd keep you with me, Signless, whether for good or ill. But we may not have a choice. The days when I gave orders on a field of battle are well behind me here."

He shakes his head, feeling his forehead move against Signless', and watches steadily his close up view of those red, familiar eyes. "Stay behind someone."

But he's speaking useless words now, talking just to stave off the inevitable. He stops himself as soon as he realizes it. They've been separated before, did in fact spend most of their shared arenas separate. This is different. This is more than a cruel play dreamed up by spoiled children. This is real. If he's going to say something, he is going to mean it.

"Signless. I love thee."

He doesn't need to say it, of course. Signless knows, and knows it very well. But Roland wants to.