Mercy barely had the patience to stay and listen to what Karpos said- but he felt himself stunned by the words spoken, ones which had come from Aponi. He understood more, now; not that it made him sympathize with Karpos, but it made him realize what he was to Aponi, and who he would have to be. She had never told him, in words, how she felt, and he'd never said the same to her. Hearing it indirectly was still a shocker and it struck him like a bolt of electricity, but at the same time it was something he already knew. And he felt the ugly beast of pride slither smugly in his breast, to hear just what Aponi thought of him, and what she thought of Karpos. She was his girl. She wasn't Karpos'. She was his.

He watched Karpos as he lashed out, and snapped back in retaliation, but didn't pursue the boy. He hoped that Mapplethorpe would beat him silly for chasing Aponi off, especially when she was still weak from starvation. Mercy tilted his head back and released a loud, mournful howl. He knew it would break his mother's heart, and that he was jeopardizing his own life, but life in Hollowheart Keep would no longer exist for him, if Aponi wasn't there as well. He had to go and find her, and bring her back again- otherwise, he would find her and join her wherever she travelled. Either way, he wasn't going to live in the Keep without her, and knew full well that this might mean his death.