Madame Souise met Cascade's glare with something that vaguely resembled curiosity on her face. "You will never accept my help?" Madame Souise asked with an inquisitive tilt of her head. "Even if doing so means sacrificing those you have set out to save? Because that is what will happen. I've seen battles such as the one you prepare to face play out many times before. If Northlander longships land on Zephyr's shores, the very best you could hope for is losing nine of your own before driving the raiders back. And when I say the very best, I do mean the very best. Each of you would have to strike flawlessly with every attack you make. Anything less than perfection on your part once battle is joined would mean more deaths on top of the inevitable nine." Madame Souise gestured towards Jørmund with her free hand then. "And if you need more proof of that than my word alone, you need look no further than the one you sought out for help in the first place."