"So, how's Vania today?" Derry asked quietly as he and Eddin met in the hallway outside Vania's door.

"She's not," Eddin said, matching the baker's soft volume. "That bitch has had control of her since yesterday."

Derry nodded slowly, sighing. "How long do you think that will last?"

"I don't know," Eddin admitted quietly. "Yesterday, before the bitch took over completely, Vania begged me to give her the pendant and let her kill herself." He looked at the silent baker. "Said she was losing the battle and she didn't want to carry on like this anymore."

Derry sighed, eyes looking around the empty hallway before he replied, "I was afraid it was beginning to look that way. None of the temples we've reached out to will help. No wizards, either. I don't know what Ans'sa saw in her vision... but maybe how Vania saves everyone from this disaster is by trapping the goddess and taking her down with herself."

"I... don't want to lose her."

"I know. Neither do I. She's a treasured part of the family. I'm just not sure I see any other way out of this. And, if there is, what state will Vania be in once it's done?"

"You were a master strategist in the army. Can you think of a way to defeat this bitch?" Eddin asked, eyes pleading.

"I've been pondering it since we found out the cause of her blacking out, and everything Ab'bashura said." Derry paused, sighing, then shook his head. "This is well beyond anything I ever had to face with mere troops and military strength."

"We... can't just give up on her," Eddin replied.

"I don't want to," Derry admitted. "And don't tell Licia anything of this conversation. But... Vania knows herself best. If she can't see a way to beat this goddess, then maybe... there isn't one."

"Derry," Eddin protested, choking back a sob.

"Put yourself in her position," Derry whispered.

"That's the problem," Eddin replied softly, staring down at his empty, open palms. "If I do that... then the pendant will be around her neck and she and I will both be dead."

"She won't want you to kill yourself," Derry replied, looking up at Eddin's defeated face.

"And I don't want her to kill herself, either."

"But hers, though tragic, would serve a purpose. Yours... would just be a needless death."

"We agreed we'd walk through this darkness together, Derry. I won't let her face that path alone."

Derry studied Eddin's face for a long moment in silence, then he sighed. "There's no use arguing with you, at least not right now. I recognize that look in your eyes. Lost plenty of good soldiers wearing that look. At least... wait one more day. See if maybe Vania can break through. Talk to her."

Eddin nodded wordlessly and walked down the corridor, away from the baker and the spelled door keeping the goddess in Vania's body inside the house.