Istredd is right that they are all here now, so they need to work within those parameters. There is no undoing what's already been done, and with the territories still committed to the ritual, all they can really do now is try to mitigate the damage. Even Viktor isn't sure if his own work will make it worse, but he does have to try for many reasons, including the one that Istredd voices now.

"He wouldn't be the only one."

Viktor thinks of Tony, returning to his own death. Kyle, too, who believes himself to be mortally wounded at the moment of his departure. Viktor wouldn't wish the dread of returning to something like that on anyone. All the more reason to find some kind of solution.

"Theoretically, it should work both ways. That is the hope."