Jigano had not heard the full story of Roana's involvement with the Ascended; at the time Sam had told him about his attacker there had been no name attached to the tale. He had not realized she had a magic ring, but as he regarded her bobbling soul thoughtfully he gave a slight shake of his head. "Not... exactly. If Ronin has the ring then I will trust him to make good use of it, should the need arise again. I wouldn't strip him of his own defenses."
He looked back to the rag-wrapped mask, letting his own fall away to reveal the vulnerability beneath. "I am afraid," he admitted quietly. "Of having my animal shifts stolen from me against my will, of having them perverted and used against me when they are what bind me to the rhythm of this world and the old gods. Even of having my newfound magic turned against me, as Wessex turned Loren's magic against the serpent and I in the Spire. Is there no way to protect my blood against an Ascended trying to take it? To make it... if not poisonous to such an attacker, at least useless for their purposes?" His fingers had curled into fists in his lap, white-knuckled and tense as he searched the porcelain mask desperately for any sign of hope that what he sought was possible.
He looked back to the rag-wrapped mask, letting his own fall away to reveal the vulnerability beneath. "I am afraid," he admitted quietly. "Of having my animal shifts stolen from me against my will, of having them perverted and used against me when they are what bind me to the rhythm of this world and the old gods. Even of having my newfound magic turned against me, as Wessex turned Loren's magic against the serpent and I in the Spire. Is there no way to protect my blood against an Ascended trying to take it? To make it... if not poisonous to such an attacker, at least useless for their purposes?" His fingers had curled into fists in his lap, white-knuckled and tense as he searched the porcelain mask desperately for any sign of hope that what he sought was possible.
