I stood up and opened a drawer in a cabinet next to my chair. I took out a camera and took a few photos of the girl’s back before sitting down once ...more.“Turn back to face me”She shuffled back round with her head down and I could detect the hint of embarrassment on her face. I was pleased to see that she still held her arms behind her back and her knees were well spread.“Do you know who I am slut?”“No Miss.”“But you know the system of this land?”“Yes Miss.”“I am a Mistress. I know the value and. How would you prefer for me to address you?’ ‘Meleth.’ It was an elvish name, that much Verite recognised immediately from the accenting, but it was not so much a name as merely… a word. Then she snorted gracelessly when she realised what it meant. ‘Your name is ‘love’?’ The woman grinned over her shoulder, before her attention was briefly drawn away by a young woman entering. She was perhaps in her early thirties, but there were faint signs of greying at the front of those curled black. Ben faltered and bent down to snatch up what had caught his eye. He stood in the water and held up another nugget of metal, this one a silvery-blue colour. He began to search the streambed for any sign of other nuggets, but nothing else caught his eye."What's keeping you?" Adam asked, having doubled back to find out what was wrong."Nothing, I just wanted a drink of water," Ben replied and began to jog once more.As he ran, Ben slipped the nugget into his pouch alongside the two nuggets of. A simple thank you is not enough. We have worked together for several months now and you have become a true friend, I have grown and so have my people because of your insight and knowledge, but this is something way beyond that friendship. I promise that I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for this one gift. I think if I had eyes I would be crying now, this is just too much for me to handle at this time. I think I now know the emotion of love. Thank you.”By now Fred was glowing a.