"About a decade, give or take," Faolan says, sitting back in his chair, swirling his drink in his tumbler as he does. "Not really certain that the first few years should really count, considering." He was basically the epitome of a sullen teenager, with the added chip on his shoulder that his whole family had died and he truly was alone in the world.

"It was a rough start of things, but I made my place here in the end," he concludes. "I'd say that surviving the ten years isn't a bad accomplishment, all things considered. I've known a great many others not to have survived this life as long as that."