Palamedes looks up at her when she comes closer, his perfect grey eyes shining with tears that haven't quite fallen. More than anything, he looks dreadfully lost, and when her arms come around him, he does not shrink away. His arms go around her waist, and his tears spill out silently onto her collarbone, and frankly it's embarrassing, but he can't help himself. When it comes to Dulcinea, Palamedes has been holding back too many emotions for too long, and finally the dam has broken.

He gives a shaky laugh. "You'd have to get past Protesilaus," he reasons, as though they are actually considering it. "Or agree to take him along. And then his whole family will have to come, of course."