Valetni turned pondered his response for a moment. The girl was young, no doubt, but she would only be getting older. He knew what the older monk would say, he would lie, say it was nothing, anything to avoid upsetting her. Valetni had done the same thing for his daughter. He never got the chance to see how his method would have his own daughter turn out at Mary's age, but he could see how Zato's method had. The girl was fragile, emotional, coddled, and socially stunted.<br/><br/>He stopped and turned to look Mary in the eyes.<br/><br/>"Burning flesh and hair." Valetni said simply. "This morning, it's the smell of victory."