Though nearly broken by her captivity, the terror of what fevered imaginations showed her as possible futures, it was not until Sophie stood in the bleak hallway, seeing the fate that awaited her on the block, that she broke completely, eyes wide, legs unable to support her, she fell, at the feet of the black king, throwing her arms around his legs.  "Please, Majesty.  Not that, anything but that.  I want to live!  Don't kill me, I beg you for your mercy.  I'll do anything, I promise, but let me live, sire!"  It was rumored that those Balhtazar took as his slaves were subjected to fates in many ways worse than death, but as Sophie reckoned, those would have to be strange ways indeed.  Nothing could be worse than a traitor's death. . .not even slavery.<br/><br/>--==--<br/><br/>Her slippered feet took two steps towards him, as if it were her intent to fling herself into her arms, but only just barely remembered her sense of decorum, and merely treated Darius to a demure smile.  "I did no more than wish you by my side, my knight, and so truly have you taken my heart that you heard its wish as a whisper in your ear.  I truly believe you mean to do me faithful and just service; my happiness knows no bounds.  It is well that you have come.  I mean to find something in the palace that has been, for years and years, forgotten.  It may be perilous, it may be tedious, our search may yield nothing, but I mean to try."