> > "Fact" 0 begs the question rebegged in "Fact" 1. > If Vlad had the vial with him at the time, or Verra had been speaking to Vlad, I'd buy into that idea more easily. As it happens, it was Aliera who demanded an explanation for why Morollan had to stay, and Verra's reaction was "I don't owe you an explanation." It was only Aliera's status as her daughter that caused her to reconsider and answer her. Verra's only words addressed to Vlad were "Don't come back." If that's a hint, it's a pretty round-about way to give one. As far as Verra was concerned, Morollan was there for good. Rather than supposing that Verra set Vlad up to rescue Morollan, I'd be more inclined to believe that Vlad's rescue of him (combined with negotiating the Paths at his side in the first place) was what brought him to her attention. Before that he was just a member of a semi-devout family of her worshippers. After that, he became "useful".