"Be surprised what people can live through." Mat gives an awkward little lying down shrug. He doesn't - didn't - know the man. Who's to say what the odds of survival are? Not him. Besides, he understands the need to hope.

"Mmm, yeah. Rhy and Wilhelm made efforts, and light knows I didn't make it easy on them. And Alicent. I...think I may be some sort of pledged knight now, I made her all sorts of promises of protection. She's our age, and very very high born and sheltered." There's no need to describe how poorly equipped to handle life in the pit she'd been. Hence Mat's swearing to look after her and protect her and keep her from harm. He thinks he implied enough for Jesper to infer.

"Barely saw Anakin all month, though. I know he went through hell, too, but he didn't even sleep in our room after. And he's my only roommate, so the nights were...very empty."

Not to mention Anakin is his best friend.