“I, Imogen Nel, pledge my loyalty to you, King Theodore Ariti of Varya. I… will try… to honor you in word and deed, will and action. Before Eusia—” I shook my head. Cleared my throat. “Before the Great Gods, wherever they may be, I swear it.” The side of his mouth gave a wry downward curve. “You’ll try?” I nodded. “I swear it.”
