[She looks up at him, a hurt little expression on her face, and then just as quickly it's gone. He's testing her. It has to be that. Her ability to keep her composure in front of all these people, after what he knows she's been through this past week. Why else bring up all this? Well, Arilanna Tayrey won't disappoint him. She speaks quietly, but clearly.]

I know exactly what I want, and I'm surprised you don't see it. I have never wavered and never lost sight of it. I want my home. I want the Tradelines. I want my freedom - real freedom, not amusements and trivialities on this ship. Everything I do here is to bring me closer to that goal. Out there I mattered. Talented, youngest lieutenant on the ship, all of that? What does it matter here, with no course to chart and no ship to fly and people like... Yato, and Valdis, who likely think I'm weak just for being human. And they're the good ones. The ones I know. I can't be more than I am. I can protect myself. To further my goal. That's not fear, that's good sense.

I don't know why you believe Skulduggery. If he were making some... horrendous sacrifice, getting close to that man to learn his secrets, that would be one thing, but his writings say otherwise. How would you know if he had lied to you? You say you don't trust people, but you seem to have unfounded faith in him. He doesn't want freedom for us, he's one of the people who wants us all to despair and think there's no way out, isn't he? But it's alright. Even if you do believe in him, because I'll be watching your back anyway.

I talked to Yato. I wouldn't trust him on everything, but I know enough to see that your contract with him is sound. He's dealing respectfully with you. Fair contract. He hasn't always done that with others.