Holly frowned at Seneca's sudden idea. "I don't know what a talisman would do except offer an artificial sense of protection. You'd need something special to stay alive forever." And Holly was not fond of the idea of staying alive forever, with wrinkles and dangling skin and brittle bones. "I wish it weren't so political. First son, eldest daughter, fourth son, youngest daughter—it's all nonsense when yo think about what's really important."

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