They are thick iron rings four, possibly five, inches in diameter. About ten are attached to the wall in pairs I guess seven feet from the floor. They...are attached to the wall like old fashioned door knockers. There are six; I counted, around the bed; one in each corner and two half way down on either side. The first time I visited James their presence crept up on me; almost without me noticing. I went to James's flat for a meeting to discuss a possible new book we might collaborate on; very. Presently she gave my shoulders a squeeze, then said briskly: “Now, here’s my plan for the evening. We’ll finish our beer, maybe have another drink or two, and I’ll re-heat the food and we’ll finish eating – it’s too nice to waste. Then I’ll run you a nice hot bubble-bath, and I’ll bath you - just the way I sometimes did for your mum when you were very little.” She chuckled, and I knew I was blushing, as I always did when she reminded me of that. “Then,” she went on, “I’ll put you to bed and. Anyone with magic could enter the Academy for Arcanic Arts, only nobles and the brightest were exempted from the large fees it required but many of low extraction raised to the highest level after their studies. (Andrew the first even ended being emperor despite having being born in a simple peasant home.)Your family was one of the few to have had three of its members elected Emperor by the 27 electoral princes of the nation. Those three powerful archmages had ruled with wisdom in their time. I prayed while I worked and then worked while I prayed. I took a long walk before heading into the kitchen to help out Mother Helena. We didn’t speak at all but just smiled at one another any time our eyes met as we prepared dinner. Angelina came in the kitchen when we were just clearing up the dishes from preparing dinner looking noticeably stressed about something.“Why can’t people just leave things alone?”She snarled“What is it you are looking for dear?”Helena asked“Oh it doesn’t matter I’ll.