” “A good choice, my Master,” Silmaria nodded slowly. She turned her gaze, quiet and serene and trusting, up to Rael’s intense, focused silver...eyes. “I trust you, my love. And if you choose life by going into the roaring mouth of a wintery old god, then that’s what you choose, and I can do naught but follow.” Rael stared down into her eyes, and his thumb softly traced the vibrant black of the stripe on her cheek. “I swore that I would let no harm come to you. I’ll honor that vow. I swear it.. Please, withhold your rancor at my need, and indulge me this one last time." He came aboard the barge, and dropped two coppers in my palm. I told him that only paid for the horse and not it's rider. He accused me of being trying to him and brought his crop to bear hard upon my face, whilst I stood near him, unawares of his intent to do me any harm. Forewarned after the first, I moved backwards to avoid another blow. His horse, perhaps from nerves at the smell of my blood, moved about in such a. If you give me more than one job to do, don’t tell me which is priority. I’m psychic.5. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work.6. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a promotion.7. If you don’t like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversations. I was born to be whipped.8. If you have special instructions for a job, don’t write them down. In. This commitment is without end, depth, breadth or height. It is immeasurable, and cannot be seen, touched or felt by anyone other than them. It is a locking of hearts, minds, spirits and souls. It strengthens them and makes them one.“Vanessa, would you kneel please?”I knelt at Jack’s feet, the same way I had knelt at his feet that first night after the scene, the way I had knelt earlier in the day to receive his seed, and countless times in between.Marguerite continued. “The white unopened rose.