I will also feel sorry for Bertie if Brutor is dead, even though it will be Bertie's own damn fault.

I feel this is also a moment of realizing (for me and probably others) that Alex Will Kill The Dog if the dice so dictate, which means that no-one is safe.

He says proudly that he's never fudged a dice roll, and there are some truly blood-chilling ones. Punches do not get pulled.