Pain was a sensation Verinia was familiar with in her life. Granted that it was mostly in the physical sense, she had suffered enough punishments to be acquainted with it for a lifetime.
She had suffered loss, as well, and knew that the pains of the heart were worse than the pains of the physical being. The pains of the heart were unpredictable.
Whenever she would be strapped down to be whipped, she wouldn't feel frightened, because she knew that it would only hurt as much this time as it had hurt the last time. It was always the same.
But when it came to the heart, she was rightfully terrified. That was a pain that knew no measure. One day it would hurt less, and the next day, she would stand at the edge of the fjord, contemplating what it would feel like to just let herself fall into it.
No more pain, no more worries, or scheming, or fighting for anything.
