[The porcelain serpent of a man was molded into a sense of lull, the sibilant breath at his ear stilling every baleful thought.]

Aha.. favor, Patron..?

[His voice was about as distant as his mind at that moment, cradled in placation.]

There is.. not much I can give now.

[Stripped of his vestments and diadems, he was a bare and naked soul before this soldier who would go on to carry his torch with such nobility and without shame.]