My father is one. So was my... my sister. [He hesitates, but he doesn't say much else on it, not until Eithan is prodding. It's hard for Belthazar to lie on a good day, but calling him out on his sadness only makes it worse. Whenever he lies, it's always full of bravado, a grand gesture to prevent anyone from seeing his fragile heart. There's nothing of the sort, here. He's given up on that life.

His expression falters and he looks down at his lap.]

... I knew Mikleo. I met him a few times. We talked about magic, and history, and... and I helped him, once. He mentioned getting sick, but I didn't think anything of it after we'd gotten away from it, and now he's...

[Something occurs to him, then.]

I heard he was with some man on the surface. Do you know who that was?