Karl's eyes narrow a bit as he realizes the motion was taken the wrong way. "No," he protests. "That's a terrible thought. You helped break the Circles. You proved we don't have to allow abuses. Your actions encouraged the vote which lead to the rebellion." His voice is still coarse and he doesn't clear it. He's too much of a coward to expose too much of himself.

"Without you Meredith would have been able to kill every mage in the Gallows without a fight. I was there. I had a cell. There were no windows. For days I'd hear nothing but my own thoughts and the scraping of the food they shoved at me..." His voice fails then and he has to cough to clear his throat.