THE FIRST TONGUE

times before the win

tugged by the early frostwind. Autumn had come with spite this year, sharper and earlier tha

be eight-who died yesterday coughing blood into his mother's apron. She had begged Elias to

hird grave he'

as only

im murmured, "Co

ook. "Colder t

mlight. His hands were folded before him, white and unblemished, like no s

grave with a sigh that

ed over him," Th

nswered, his voi

Elias's shoulder. His touch was gentle bu

ared at the priest's hand

wn tight over her mouth, not for warmth, but fear. Behind her, the villagers gathered

slowly, deliberately,

-

e fire was weak, and he hadn't the will to stoke it. His sister's locket hung aroun

ves in the forest, insisting they were letters from the dead. "They're trying to

tried t

s were the howls of hungry animals and the occa

a knock at

not the neighborly

ntner, her eyes wild, her apr

ok him,"

ho

bling. "He went to confess last

probably resting. Or

Elias, there was blood

the doorway like it wanted in. Elia

-

lt high again, Clara had cal

rmured. "Something bad. He'd been acting strange

wned. "Th

... he said the church ligh

ed to be in the

ed at him.

m fell

nd a loose stone in his hearth. Fr

hat?" Cla

pt key,"

yes w

Elias added. "Father Thorne

ose. "I don't thin

until well a

hing deeper, kept the shutters drawn tight. Silence ruled the hours after dark, broken only by

ved through the sh

heavy sky like a bone jutting from the flesh of the land. The wooden doors were

. A pressure in the air, like walking into a

lias didn't. He hadn't p

, no sign of life. But there was a scent.

, "The confessi

sional stood against the far wall like a huddled beast-car

breath

he curtain's edge, wa

rushing his fingers a

" he mu

the curt

ked and darkened by something that had seeped into

d away, gag

ed, leaning into the s

swer. But the s

ere the priest would sit. A seam in the wood. A

his hand

ng inward wit

den p

-

tairs spiraling down into damp earth. The air gr

pounded louder

small arched door. E

made Clara d

he walls, burned nearly to the base. The walls were marked with chalk symbols-some religious,

r of the roo

was left

int-arms crossed, eyes open, l

ed, falling

frozen, hi

nto Jonas's chest-deep, angr

t - The truth

ps echo

tur

closed the p

-

pounding against his ribs. The stairwell seemed stee

the door was

lled, banged her

cked!" s

the handle. Co

ood in

, right beside Elias's

d do not

ed-no o

stank of inc

-

o the chapel's undercroft. Elias broke it open with a stone, s

yer room, dusty and unused.

not

behind the alta

a ga

ands folded, his eyes gleaming w

softly. "The Lord

, torch in hand. "Wha

mile was slow.

d t

a step closer. His

that should never

voice, trembling.

"He was... silenced. A

ed into

the glin

scre

rything