"Superstitious," I said, smiling my academic smile. "A classic apotropaic ritual. Naming the thing gives it power."
Vel Gendis. Vel Gendis. Vel Gen—
Vel Gendis smiled. It was a terrible thing, that smile. It didn't reach his void-eyes. "He got what he wanted. I never died. I never left. And I never disagreed. But he forgot to specify that I would never want ."
"Superstitious," I said, smiling my academic smile. "A classic apotropaic ritual. Naming the thing gives it power."
Vel Gendis. Vel Gendis. Vel Gen—
Vel Gendis smiled. It was a terrible thing, that smile. It didn't reach his void-eyes. "He got what he wanted. I never died. I never left. And I never disagreed. But he forgot to specify that I would never want ."