Gabriel was momentarily distracted by the books in the room, longing to run his fingers down their spines and pore over the maps and manuscripts. But even that could not fully distract him from Uriel's words.

"Squashed under His thumb? How can you even speak of our Father and His love like that? And do you not think Raphael and I saw you as more than a wayward child?" He paused to pull the door shut behind them. "I can understand if you lost faith, I nearly did as well, but even your love for Him?"