>"Didn't come here to scare a lot of people, but I suppose scared's better than some of the alternatives."
>"But before that, there is something that occured to me back at Ichirin's. It might be a longshot, but asking couldn't hurt. This sword is what's keeping the blight at bay, we're clear on that. But is there some way I could... internalize that force? Take it within myself?"
>"In this case, I'd definitely say caution is better than being in harm's way."
>"I, um..." She looks a little taken aback. "I'm not sure exactly. I don't
think so... not in the way you mean, anyway. But there might be some way to draw upon it more directly, touch it more deeply than simply holding it.... At least it
might be possible." Then she shakes her head. "But I don't think that you could do it."
>"Uh- I didn't mean that as an insult," she says, quickly waving her hands. "Please don't take it the wrong way. But I think it would require someone very in-tune with this kind of spirituality."