Firo feels ice crawl up his spine when Roland puts his name with those dead. By now, he's learned that there are a lot of them, so perhaps Roland can be excused for just assuming his friends are all gone. But he's right here! Is Roland really that lost?

It's lucky that the guards don't offer much resistance, but Firo doesn't even think to thank them for it. The only thing that occurs to him is that the logical response is a barb about how weak they must be to find his weight too much. Firo could take it just fine when they were sparring.

It's a little different when he's all crumpled like this, though, as Firo soon finds when he tries to slip under one of Roland's arms to support him. Never mind. He's got this. He redoubles his grip and tries to take a step toward Roland's cell.

He tries to find Roland’s eyes with his own and mumbles. “I’m alive. I’m right here. You are too.”