He'd never asked for anyone's oaths before. Veronica and Serena's were freely given, for all he didn't feel he deserved them. But now Heliodor's own fabled knight knelt before him, swearing himself to his service at his request. He'd secured Hendrik's loyalty and now had little to fear but for the gravity of what it meant.

Eleven flexed sweaty fingers and surveyed the mark on his hand, then offered it out to the man kneeling before him.

"I accept your oaths."