“Your beauty leaves me breathless,” said Pereban. “Yet you find the breath to say so.” — Tanith Lee

His creed, both cosmic and precise, had a flexible simplicity which, usually, was soon harnessed and complicated by his devotees, or those who had picked up some smattering.

“May the gods take note,” said he, “that it is my kind heart brought me to this predicament.” The gods, of course, did no such thing.

The demons had invented love. There needs to be said no more.