“What are you talking about?” Lon’qu demanded, more than a little horrified at what he’s hearing. The fact that this is some kind of curse is plain enough to him, though its true purpose continues to elude him.

But then again, it’s not as if he doesn’t already know what this curse entails. He’d only heard rumors of certain cruel and unusual forms of magic, but hadn’t paid them much heed. Until now, he hadn’t thought it was even necessary to defend himself from such things.

But that’s not important right now. Lon’qu, ever practical, focuses on what matters:

“How do we get rid of this—this curse?”

Surely Serpico might have the antidote hidden among the luggage he’d carried over—after all, he’d need some sort of leverage to blackmail others with, right?

But in his heart of hearts he knows that it won’t be that simple.