I did what I could. [ Trahearne repeats absently. Did he, though? All he could do was keep Mordremoth's voice from taking over. Perhaps his resistance was enough to keep those who were meant to live, alive. It wasn't much comfort, though--he tries to think of what he could have done beforehand to make any of it better, but how far back should he go for that? What would he have changed?

Nothing. And so, perhaps Phantom is right.

And speaking of-- ]

Do you remember when Eustace and I were at your castle to save you? [ He draws his gaze up from his teacup and meets Phantom's. ] The voice I heard there...reminded me of this one.

[ They were not the same, no. But they felt...similar. Implied, but not said: Perhaps our ghosts are more similar than we think. ]