BOUND BY TANGLED FATES

ours, he was bro

brought beneath the Archive Tower itself, where the most revered, finest literature of Nektar laid. Where the air tasted of ink, sop

open and empty. The silence around him wasn't natural, it was designed. The walls absorbed sound like c

is feet, self awareness eluding his character. All he'd seen had been the

r," one ha

her had added, their words dripp

ely spoken. Wh

pened. His hand had found the curve of her waist, slender, rigid, trembling not with fury and embarrassm

e looked a fright. His storyteller's robe was navy blue, etched with crimson runes that pulsed rhythmically with each step.

king at him. "Robe-maker. No sigil. No lin

hallow nod. "Th

a brow. "So

aelen said. "Not what

interrupted the Festival of Tales, which is desecration of a sacred rite. Now, upon investigation, we find no trace o

alm. "I was delivering a commission piece. Some

emember h

mouth and ultimate

conve

een looking for someone to mend

ng to the scribe with the bow

yes flaring. "You don't need

ed. "Only the unwilling object to th

othing across the bare floor.

ase the act, Kaelen

he bowl and approached, but Kaelen held

peak,"

ted, giving

o took me in and it's what I have always been called. I've worked robes since I was nine. I don't have a sigil because no one ever gave

Sileth's voice was like poison honey, suspicion dripping from his t

d up. "Thread that..

so heavy to deliver, then muttere

iet, all the noise a

ned. "I not

ning Kaelen's robe now with less dis

you learn t

jjust... it's instinct. It comes out of

le," one of the

ed, glancing furtive

d: The Gui

simpler weave. She'd removed her ceremonial outfit the moment she'd left the stone, di

icular. Beside her, her cousin Thaliv, lounged against

make it glimmer, friction." he offered dr

It was recognition." S

d a brow. "R

, if you will" she whisp

line of robes hasn't met

which were suddenly getting clammy. "Which m

d beside him. Sileth had left, but the scribes had remained, scribbling notes w

ever wonder," he asked them, "wh

overstepped,"

aelen said, then paused. "But

ibes lo

here. I can feel it in the thread. This

ned again but it wasn't

urenya,

bled to bow, but

he room,"

ne protested, "h

out." Th

en crossed her arms and looked down at him. The li

m and surpassing her. "Alas! C

ks the tongue of the Ancients." Her arms wrapp

ked. "T

Your thread shimmered when it touched min

Then it's not my d

e flaring. "I could hav

lready

other, and for a mom

ped. "What do you re

ybe A scream" He swallowed th

ow your bi

sigil. Just ra

y. "You don't act

like someone used t

, the corners almost curv

g you," she said

ing someone who doesn

pened. "That's

de th

ll tingling from when it had brushed his arm

rd the Guild's

ommanded one of the recordkeepers. "F

he keepe

ed back towa

think we just found a thre