Aramis shakes his head. Athos had scarcely spoken on his brother before that awful time in ashen Darrow. There are so many things that haunt him, and Aramis fears that he will never be able to free the man of his burdens.

"I am always on edge when it comes to your safety," he says. "And..." Aramis shakes his head, concentrating on slotting two more pieces together. "I do not like being confronted with the fact that I will not always be there to protect you. Either of you."