It takes a considerable portion of Merriman's cast-iron self-control to avoid an involuntary reaction to the change in Bran's tone. Even so, the suddenness with which it happens is enough to leave him more than a little shaken.

He bows his head for a moment, almost as if collecting himself.

'At the going down of the sun and in the morning...' he says at last, the familiar words of Binyon's tribute given new meaning in this moment, 'We will remember them.'

Through eternity, if need be.