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“ She ? Where did she find you ?”
“ A little worse for wear on Portsmouth dock . She promised me the New World . And we travelled it . And the great opera houses of Europe .”
“ You know that her progeny considered her frivolous . Weak ?”
“ I do now .”
“ If you were stronger , I would ask that you kill me now . I do not like the images I see amassing in my head . And I know they are achievable goals , not pipedreams .”
“ I am also truly sorry , My Lady .” “ I know .”
“ It does not possess a sense of irony . It will probably change your name .”
“ It was never mine , just something left over at the end of a ritual .”
“ I hope this time you will be consulted ,” he said gravely . “ What will you do now ?”
“ What can I do ?”
“ You can stand at the window and admire the sunrise .”
“ I believe it has sufficient control over my form to prevent suicide .”
“ That control- ”
“ Will extend to my thoughts ,” she finished for him . “ I cannot tell whether that knowledge is innate or