With Danding out of the way, Lan Wangji smooths Magnus' hair anew, setting it to rights after it has been used as a rabbit chew toy for such an extended period. He doesn't like to think that there are truly irredeemable men in the world. He is not certain he does think that, even after all that he has seen. But he does think that there are men whose cruelty forces choices, and whose childish hunger to hold onto power cannot be indulged.

"It is not easy," he agrees. "It was not easy for Sagramore, either. But he knew that it was not worth letting Claudius continue to feel the pain of knowing that someone he loved did not see the suffering he endured as worthy of taking a stand."