"It's no easier," Cuthbert confided, after a moment. Maybe it was the wine spurring him to it, or maybe just that same easy companionship from earlier. Either way, the shadow was back in his eyes. "At least, it's easier for them, I guess. Doesn't stop it hurting, trust me."

He tilted the bottle to take another drink, remembered it was empty, and put it to one side with a sound of mild disgust. Just when it was starting to have an effect, too. "The whole of life's a hassle," he said sagely, in lieu of anything better. "Still, it's a damned sight better than the alternative."