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The preceptor’s flat, blank eyes did not stop staring at Alexia "Not exactly More that the lack of a soul is characterized by increased absorption of ambient aetheric particles into the skin, much in the way that a vacuue-Wilsdorf has theorized for years that preternatural abilities are the result of a lack of internal y produced aether, and to compensate, the preternatural body seeks to absorb ambient aether from the outside He invented this htly from his customary stance near the door, then stil ed

"When it is into detect?

Because I ah htly, "So could this device detect excess soul?"

"Sadly, no Only the absence of soul And since overnment, or are at least known, such an instrument is mainly useless except to confirm identity As I have just done with you, My Soul ess One I must say, your presence presents me with a bit of a conundrum" He took the wand back from Madame Lefoux, cleaned it once more, and switched the machine off It let out one little wheeze and then thenoise stopped

Alexia stared at it while the preceptor capped the ith the little glass jar and then covered the machine with the white linen cloth It was odd to encounter an instrument that existed solely for one purpose--to tel the world that she was different

"What do you Templars cal that little device?" Alexia was curious, for he had specified that "aether absorption counter" was Mr Lange-Wilsdorf’s name for it

The preceptor did not flinch "A daemon detector, of course"

Alexia was decidedly taken aback "Is that what I aly at Madame Lefoux "You would tel me if I suddenly developed a forked red tail, wouldn’t you?"

Madame Lefoux pursed her lips provocatively "Would you like me to check under your skirts?"

Alexia backpedaled hurriedly "On second thought, I think I should notice such a protuberance myself"

Floote wrinkled one corner of his nose in a remarkably understated sneer "You are a daeentlemen" Madame Lefoux leaned back, crossed her arms, and dimpled at them al"Be fair The last I heard was that the church was referring to preternaturals as devil spawn"

Alexia was confused "But you gave own… and a robe That is hardly the way to treat devil spawn"

"Yes, but you can see why none of the brothers would talk to you" Mada this part of the conversation a

"And you understand the nature of our difficulty with your presence a us?" The preceptor seemed to think this fact obvious

Floote interjected, his tone gruff "You have found good use for her kind before, sir"

"In the past," the preceptor said to Floote, "we rarely had to deal with females, and we had the daemons control ed and isolated froh the Teiven up soiven up your breeding prograhtful y at Alessandro Tarabotti’s for he could retract the infor tiland’s Sir Francis Galton has soenics,’ he is cal ing it Presu the soul first"

Madaht he was a progressive"

The Templar only blinked disdainful y at that "Perhaps we should pause at this juncture Would you like to see the city? Florence is very beautiful even at this tie A little walk along the Arno, perhaps? Or would you prefer a nap? Tomorrow I have a smal jaunt planned for your entertainment I think you wil enjoy it"

Apparently their audience with the preceptor had ended

Alexia and Madame Lefoux took the hint

The Templar looked at Floote "I trust you can find your way back to your rooms? You wil understand, it is impossible for me to ask a sanctified servant or brother to escort you"

"Oh, I understand perfectly, sir" Floote led the way froht have been, for hi trek back to their quarters The Florentine Teotten hopelessly lost, but Floote appeared to knohere to go

"Wel , he was certainly very chatty"

Floote glanced at his mistress "Too chatty, madam" Floote’s as stiff--wel , stiffer than nor

"And what does that mean?" Madame Lefoux, who had been distracted by a crude black onyx statue of a pig, trotted to catch up

"He does not intend to let us go, madam"

"But he just offered to al ow us to explore Florence on our own" Alexia was getting ever hly contrary nature of these Templars and by Floote’s opinion of them "We would be fol owed, you believe?"

"Without question,to do withdaemon of spiritual annihilation?"

"The Templars couple ith faith They see you as incapable of salvation but stil useful to the evident that Floote had had far ht She had read many of her father’s journals, but clearly he had not written down everything

"If it is dangerous for ree to the jaunt?"

Floote lookeda choice? You did insist on Italy There are different kinds of danger, ood warriors take particular care of their weapons And the Teood warriors"

Alexia nodded "Oh, I see To stay alive, I inning to wonder if proving to my bloody-minded husband that he is an imbecile is worth al this bother"

They arrived at their roo

"I do notI do not at al like this preceptor fel ow,"

declared Alexia firmly

"Apart from the obvious, why is that?" Mada in the, lack of creaood a reason as any not to like a person," replied Madame Lefoux "Are you quite certain you do not wish me to check for that tail?"