"Ah." He's quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Let me draw a distinction for thee. This reminds me always of what power I give thee, and how glad I am to trust thee with that power, what covenant we have between us that no one else shares. When I'm melancholy, or I want to be reminded that thou hast chosen me to be thy dog because thou lovest me and thinkst me good, I have that promise here, like a ring," touching the chain himself. "It marks me, and I want that mark. But that's different from the way it feels when I lie at thy feet or lick thy boots or rut against thy leg at thy command. That's the game."