"Fair has nothing to do with the way the world works," Adrian said, eyes straying away from her for a second towards his heart-tree. "You don't get fairness. Fair is something we can only give, doing our best to provide it to other people. Is it fair that these witches who might not have even known Wormentongue existed might have to fight him? Is it fair for another young witch to get ambushed and threatened to be eaten? She wouldn't have a Jewel of Propriety to offer as a boon, either. Hells, is it even fair that Miss Lambe has all this power and can't leave a single town for the rest of her life, for however long it may be?"

He looked at her now, grave and thoughtful. "If - and it is still an if - that Wormentongue is still a danger, it would be unfair to make you deal with him again. Horrifically, undeniably, even cruelly unfair. But denying your power and your help and your experience to them while they faced a monster is just as unfair."