You would throw away all that we have given you for a man’s love?” “Not a man’s love,” I say softly. “But Duval’s. And I would find a way to serve both my god and my heart. Surely He does not give us hearts so we may spend our lives ignoring them.

Truly, we are the gods' own children, forged in the fire of our tortured pasts, but also blessed with unimaginable gifts.

You are not my nursemaid. Remember, I am rescuing you.

I never skulk, and lurk only sometimes.

God's Teeth,' he says. 'I was only trying to wake you. You were crying out in your sleep.' 'I was not,' I say, then look from his neck to my knife. 'When I tried to wake you, you stabbed me.' He sounds sore put out. and I cannot blame him.

Do you need anything before I go? I want you to return my wits, I long to say.

It takes a surprising amount of courage to place one's hand into an unseen area when your mind is thinking about vermin.