so part of you goes everywhere with me. and part of me is yours, forever.

[redraw]

Four more days.

Comments

[wholeness]

Whatever your powers, you did wield them with a deftness long forgotten to me. Prised the faith out of me as if I were a godly man. You, too, are unlike others.

We have made many plans together, this evening. Too much for us to do in just one day. Tonight ilms closer to completion; thus does your time in solitude. Of all we have discussed, what will you want to do first?

[redraw]

A battle betwixt the heart and the mind leads not to a clear victor, I'm afraid.

[wholeness]

A battle? No, Master Hitlein, let us have nothing so fraught. Pray call upon them to parley. Offer them my olive branch. We shall not run out of things to do, you and I.

Let me take you to my library, first of all. You'll want to go back once you have had your look-see, so we will slip other excursions in between.

[redraw]

Your library, then. Your olive branch. My mind is duly and dutifully pleased, Your Radiance, but

[And that's quite the pregnant but, because here he may or may not be making a mistake--]

my heart was holding out hope for that dance. I'll have to remind it to be patient, and at least a little bit grateful, too.

[wholeness]

[How weak I am, he realizes. It doesn't stop him from saying the things he has said, or from saying what he'll say next.]

We shall dance. I will not strain your heart; you'll not need to hold out much longer. I only need your latest measurements, once you are cleared to be descended upon by the nimblest tailor in Garlemald.

[redraw]

[The latest... hmm, well...]

Four more days! Might as well be asking a century's century of me...

But seeing as I'm the one who designed these precepts, I suppose I ought to abide by them.

And I suppose I ought to thank you for providing first-rate amenities in a plague ward.