Barcus nods his understanding, still well and truly tangled up in his own emotions, but appreciating the perspective nevertheless. "Yes...and there's a difference between people who want companionship and people who want to consolidate power. Turns out the latter was more what Wulbren had in mind, in the end."

He gives a weak, shaky laugh. "My inner circle is not rife with romantic prospects, dear; I tend to assume I'm of limited interest to anyone who's not another gnome, or maybe a halfling."

"That, and back home there's the chance he'll actually come back and try to kill me, or even the other Ironhands. Maybe that's part of why I'm not as anxious to leave here as I should be."