It wasn't precisely a gamble so much as a surety, but Anton was still glad to see it borne out as he thought it would. He had kept Daisy ready at hand while Valdis trembled with her inner battle, but now he exhaled and stepped forward to put his hand on her head, between her ears, though without a stroke in case that would be insulting.

"Debts are not needed between comrades in war," he repeated, nearly the same words he had said to Dante when Dante had thanked him for his help against the cultists. Anton turned and looked at Dante, and nodded. "We're clear, I believe."