"As I see it now, we are at neutral." Morgana somehow found herself positioning herself between Marcello and Maalech, unconsciously, as if to keep one from the other. "I should think the first matter to be settled is whether or not she plans to take him back to Cnoch-na-Niall. Your day's near done."

"I implied a few nasty things before she slapped me" Maalech admitted. "I should not have done so." He did not go into detail exactly what he had said, if there was anybody he should tell that to it would be the Countess herself.

"I know it matters little if I would reassure you that I intend no harm" he sighed, pressing two fingers to the bridge of his nose. "I remember what happened during those months. I remember what I felt. How you treated me."

"And I'm not sure what she wants," Marcello told Meg. "I think that was part of why she brought you here, because she wanted advice." She took a deep breath and looked at the man. "I'd like to believe it," she admitted. "But the man you were would say the same in an effort to convince us. And that's the trouble I have right now."

"The trouble with neutral is that you can't exactly remain there," Morgana said, only slightly pointedly. "What if I told her there's no harm in taking him back? What if I laid down a ward on it?"

Maalech gave Marcello a pointed look, which he softened with an act of will. "The man I was would not have cared overmuch what you thought. But it is a moot point, I know. You have good reasons to distrust me."

He let out a breath and watched Meg, pondering what she was offering.

"What do you mean, put a ward on...on what?" Marcello asked. "I somehow suspect Maalech has no interest in going to Cnoch Na Niall," she said. "I assumed we would only take him there for Niabheara to put him in prison, if she chose to do that. I didn't..." She shook her head, uncomfortable. "If we're setting him free, he should go."

"Then I leave it to the Countess," she said. "There's no reason for her to keep him any longer. The magic's gone. He's no threat to her any more."

"I have already left it in her hands" Maalech agreed. "There is nothing that I can suggest that would not make her second guess whatever decision she makes." He hesitated for a moment, torn between two choices.

On one hand he wished Niabheara to step up and take whatever action she wished to and try to deal with whatever fears she had. On the other hand, perhaps he was pushing this on her to see her cringe. Was this some manner of revenge? He could honestly not tell for sure.

"Unless..." he begun, suddenly unsure. "Unless it would be easier on her if I simply disappeared."

Marcello shook her head. "No," she said. "That would scare her. But I see no reason for you to stay unless you want to. I-- I'll say the same I said before, though, I have to support Niabheara in this. She is my lady, and she's going to be my wife. I haven't yet gotten to ask her her mind, but I will, alone. Do you have a place to go?"

"Disappearing solves nothing," Morgana said. "Better to end it here and go your separate ways, if that's the best course." She sighed. "And I'm hoping she'll decide the same. The circumstances have changed. Anything more would be petty vengeance."