His gaze dropped again to the ground. The worst of it was, he nearly believed him. If not for Carnelian, he might even have accepted him at only that. He couldn't afford blind trust when Heliodor had proved itself so given to treachery, but neither could he simply ignore Hendrik.

..Loyal to a fault, Jade had said.

Yggdrasil, lend me strength.

Eleven released a steady breath, then raised his eyes and met Hendrik's unflinching. He sheathed his sword and straightened, willing himself for just this moment to have the proper bearing of a legendary hero.

"I want to hear it," he said, the words a distant echo to his own ears- like someone else was saying them. His every nerve trembled through the fingers curling to fists at his sides. "Swear yourself to me."