There was a long, arduous pause.

Raevin, the captain of the guard, at least when his leg had been whole, let the silence continue whilst his employer looked at the paper. The elf's lips pursed, he paused and considered. He thought before he could no longer not speak.

"Would it be possible to deduce that yourself and Stare have ..."

"Come to an agreement, yes," Vitruvion replied, folding the paper into its natural state. He then folded it again and laid it to the side. Lifting his eyes he looked directly at Raevin. "She has, in her own way, sworn her loyalty to me," he kept his voice even as he gazed at his old friend and ally. "She has agreed to remain at my side, willingly, for the foreseeable future."

Raevin's lips parted. He was no fool. He was one of very few who knew of Vitruvion's godhood, and the fact that Stare had been made immortal purely because their employer had refused to live without her. Those combined meant that the arrangement Stare had seemingly pledged herself to was ...

"Sir," Raevin said quietly. "You mean she has given no stipulation to an ending of time. Meaning ..."

"She has pledged herself to my service for eternity, yes, Raevin," Vitruvion said calmly and sedately. "She is mine, and now she accepts that. There were some other exchanges of understanding, and it was not without its challenges to arrange, but," softly, he smiled. "I have what I want."

"Her," Raevin murmured.

"At least her loyalty, indeed." The god's chest swelled with some pride. His fingers played with the ring on the middle finger on his right hand. "And for your awareness she is now knowing not so much the location of her soul, but the fact it is not in her body."

Raevin blinked, then winced. "Ah."

"Ah indeed," Vitruvion nodded, "But I agreed to elements of honesty with her. Thus, she needed to know the fact she has a phylactery."

"I will still advise that making her something of a lich was risky, sir," Raevin said honestly, "but she knows now."

"At least," Vitruvion nodded. "And with that -" he looked directly at Raevin. "You can now entirely regard her as your equal. In standing and authority."

"I already did, sir," the elf nodded.

"Good," Vitruvion grunted. And he turned his head away, looking into the fireplace. It was lit, bright flames licking up the wood like starving wolves. It, as well as the bold lamps overhead, lit the room in the fast fading light from outside. He and Stare had arrived in the late afternoon, and eaten little before it had become close to night.

A pause.

"If you do not mind my asking, sir ... How long are you staying?"

Vitruvion paused before looking over to Raevin. "Indefinitely. I have made the arrangements to close the manor in Beinost for now, the staff paid for a stipend," he interlaced his fingers. "Merla is to remain as a consultant in the offices, but Stare's work with the businesses over the last many months have made them all more able to manage themselves. I have made the decision for us to retreat, Raevin. In all of the circumstances, with Ventrua missing, yourself injured and even Pride," he spoke of a protoge he had, who had once been a guest within the Hollow, but rescued from there when Vitruvion's close friend, her master, had been murdered by agents of his enemy brother, "has not reported in for some days."

"She is supposed to be ..."

"With the faun, yes," Vitruvion inclined his head. "Who I presume would be able to protect her, but it may be that my brother's demonic influence stretches even there. That, and Stare is determined to go to this wedding tomorrow." He let out an agitated breath, before spreading a wide-fingered hand. "So here we are. For now, here, surviving."

He looked to his old friend. "You will protect her tomorrow?"

"Does she even need my protection?" Raevin raised a brow. "And, sir, I am ... Incapacitated." He looked down at the missing portion of his left leg.

"You can at least be an extra pair of eyes," Vitruvion sighed. "Watch over her. If you see anything untoward I will transport over immediately and remove you both from the scene."

"Are you ..." Raevin asked carefully.

"Most definitely not invited, no," the god said, leaning forwards. His long fingers curled around the edge of the arm of the sofa. "Now. That was all I wanted to say. If there is nothing I am heading to rest."

Raevin arched a brow. "You said to her you would not be far behind."

"Indeed," the god smiled. "Although I have agreed to her proviso that there will never be any ... intimacy between us." He rolled his shoulders back as he stood. "We work with what we have."