Hyacinthe's mouth twisted; he didn't like most of the words they used for Naamah's Servants in this world. Even if they did it for coin, not for the glory of one of Elua's Companions, he was still conditioned to see the calling as something sacred.

"Servants who belong to Houses have a marque; 'tis the amount they are indebted to their House. All funds from their assignations goes to their House, but gifts they are given from their patrons, those may go to their marques, which are limned on their backs an inch at a time." His fingers trailed up her spine. "Once they have earned their marques, they are free. They may leave their House, or they may continue to stay, trading a percentage of their assignations to the House and keeping the rest. You, cherie, seem to feel you have a marque that you owe your family. I just don't know when you will be able to pay it off and finally be free."