BOUND BY TANGLED FATES

rbled pillars, fine upholstery and waxed floors. But today, it bu

into splashes of color across the old cedar. Almost twelve Guild elders stood gathered around one long, low

c? Kaele

threads were uneven, variant; some thick, others hair-thin. Its edges refused to wear, showing the usual tell tale signs of age and the clas

ia, eyes narrowed. "No watermark, no thr

d, tapping a faintly glowing segment. "But it doesn't respond

to a family and yet, during the week eeFestival of Tales,

ght a hea

htly over her chest, the ceremonial robe she had wo

as him. The shimmer happened the moment his s

nt in the craft," Urran c

hreadlore," Elder

urned

. They were memory vessels, a storage facility. Legend tells us that their children were

anished centuries ago. Their work was untrace

forward. "What if Ka

nce

er thin hands brushing the r

d, in the H

had taken care of that, robbing him. Yet it wasn't the cold keepin

given a plain linen shift; but in spirit. His essence felt

ed more interrogation. Instead,

ai

e said. "They want

ang me in front of fin

mile. "To un

ays, neither of them speaking. Only when they s

ike a dissected creature. The Guild elders turned to stare at him. S

said, voice brit

"You want me to prov

ecognizes you," she sa

d over the fabric. Then, with a deep brea

th

ent. The threads lit along his fingers, whispering blue-white like moonlight through leaf patterns. Sym

his palm, gasps of unbelief an

live," one el

ard, awed. "The ro

s face. "Impossible. That language is dead, may

his head. "Wha

e ans

s scanning the symbols as they d

"Sealed Heir.

paled. "That'

?" Kaele

ed at him, t

the Threadari. To end a bloody rebellion, the Guild took one of their childr

ogether, itching his

a said quietly. "The Threadari vanished soo

f that forgotten lineage stands here. We

his head feeling wo

ing..." he

aid. "By the Treaty of Knot and Flame

there are no other Thre

said, voice hollow. "And the

cked like thunder, cuttin

ze to settle de

tion. The robe has spoken. The old oath was thr

didn't come here for any

ran cut in. "That mig

dn't

ly, eyes shining with fury. "You t

desperate now. "I'm

id. "Then wh

unable to produce

n.' Aurenya had demanded he not be imprisoned again, but they weren't letting him leav

now. Like it knew things he didn't. Like it ha

reness had gr

se it

cript glowing faintly a

"What am I s

hread did