I hope you don't mind a drive-by comment to say:

-I also enjoyed your Yuletide Hexwood fic!

and

-Hexwood is one of those DWJ books that I read in adolescence and am terrified to re-read in case it makes less sense this time around. Er. Is that relatable at all?

Also I feel one could get even more trope-ticks out of the assassin breeding program.