Alain followed Kaine closely, staying quiet. It wasn't until they were at the top of the stairs that he looked up from studying his feet, still rubbing at his temple.

"He'll be alright," he said, frowning a little. "Bert, I mean. We're all struggling at the moment, and I think mayhap Bert more than most. But he'll be alright." He sounded rather as if he was trying to reassure himself as much as Kaine. He'd seen Bert's dark moods. This wasn't one of them. This was worse.