" Why do you want to do this?" he asked curiously. " Why is this woman so important to you?" Saint-Germain blinked in surprise. " Have you ever loved anyone?" he asked." Yes," Tamnuz said cautiously, " I had a consort once, Inanna..." " But did you love her? Truly love her?" The Green Man remained silent." Did she mean more to you than life itself?" Saint-Germain persisted." They do not love that do not show their love," Shakespeare murmured very softly.The French immortal stepped closer to the Elder. " I love my Jeanne," he said simply. " I must go to her." " Even though it will cost you everything?" Tamnuz persisted, as if the idea was incomprehensible." Yes. Without Joan, everything I have is worthless." " Even your immortality?" " Especially my immortality." Gone were the banter and the jokes. This was a Saint-Germain whom neither Shakespeare nor Palamedes had ever seen before. " I love her," he said, "