In that capacity I fell in quite by accident with these fine gentlemen knights.”“I fear,” said the knight, “that pressing Steven join us on th...s trek has delayed his own mission. He would be in Byzatica by now and headed on the south road had we not pressed him into service.”“All roads lead to the dragon,” Steven repeated.“Perhaps,” said the knight, “but I would speed you on your journey. Brother, are you traveling soon to Byzatica?”“Indeed, I leave on the morrow,” said the merchant. “I would. His belly emptied, and the skinlooked like a deflated beach ball. Long, sinuous strands of tissue,blood, and mucus clung thickly to the floor between his legs, adding tothe mess from before.The pain gone, and the pressure subsided thanks to his recent blowout, hefelt a renewed sense of strength and vitality, a feeling he likened towhen one first feels well again after being sick. He closed his eyes,breathing in the life of it in great, refreshing lungfuls. The odor ofhis bodily rejection. ”“For every theoretical argument against our instant love, Sean presents more proof to validate it. Even though Sean tried to explain it to me this morning, tonight I truly realize that my life with Sean is going to be a wonderful and exciting exploration of all we shared before we even knew each other. I will revel in anticipation of all the new experiences we will share for the first time together and I have completely dismissed all fears where our love is concerned.”Turning to look Sean in. The nations that make up the Khitonan Collectives are as follows (in order of establishment): Khiton, Merxis, Sujtasas, Pernecor, Khat-Khava, Ithmus-Meisch, Truzlos, and Adytos.Peistis (singular-Peisti)- A seafaring people who dwell mainly in the nations of Ryujinne, Ereshiga, Bo Sai, and Pai-Lung and on the Islands of Spice and Wine which are partially owned by the Khitonan Collectives and the Federated Commonwealth of Viniterus. They have lean but muscled bodies with blue-green, hard, smooth.