The words lit a fire in Waver's heart, and his eyes flashed with a sudden intensity at the sheer irrationality of what the man was suggesting.

"You say it's 'cruel,'" he spat, "but what makes you think you deserve anything less after what your people did today? Peoples homes and livelihoods have been destroyed because of this senslessness

"What makes you think that you actually deserve to die after tonight?"

Perhaps it was cruel, but death felt like a cheap escape. Even if they learned nothing, safeguarding this man's life might be worth something in the future.

And, if not, living with the weight of these actions was a greater punishment than anything Death could offer.