Aeryn sways slightly. her mind is a swirl of relief, guilt, triumph, anger, more guilt.  "I'm Free.  Really, truly,  deep in my gut, and the center of my soul.  I'm free."<br/>She honestly doesn't know what to do next.  Burn an offering?  Dance naked  around his body chortling with glee?  He had treated her.... not badly by the standards of his peers.  She had never been able to say ko when summoned to his bed, of course.  Or when he loaned her to others.  That hadn't happened often, thank the Gods.  But he had fed her, clothed her.  Had given her a very long leash, never interfered, well, hardly interfered with her work at the Royal hospital or assorted charity wards.  And he had paid for her education.<br/><br/>"Proper care and training of a prime head of livestock, I suppose."  A gravedigger gave her a look when she said that, but shrugged and leaned on his shovel waiting almost as patiently as the dead man.  Aeryn finally reachs into her pouch and pulls out two silver coins and lys one of them on each of her former master's eyes.  Her fingers did linger a bit on his cheek.  "Good bye."  She says simply, spins on her heel and walks quickly back to the fort.  She has a report to deliver to the Commander when he had time to hear it, preparations for a long journey to make.  And Xen.  She still has Xen.