We can do more than pray! [ Claude snaps, whirling around to face Marianne, the panic flooding his veins making him snappy, rash. He usually at least pretends to have a smoother facade than this, but he finds himself quite unable to hold back. ]

How can you just assume that she's with your gods? What if she's been taken somewhere else? What if she's in danger? Would you have us sit here and pray for her return instead of working to find a way ourselves?

[ He brings his hand to his mouth, fretfully gnawing on his thumbnail. ]

Besides, she's a sinner like me, remember? Where do we go when the gods intervene?

[ He doesn't believe in all that rubbish. Not really. But he'd like to know what Marianne has to say about it. ]