THE FIRST TONGUE

re's church when Elias found it-wedged beneath the altar, hidden benea

bo

d with age and, more troubling, something else-flesh?

across the cover.

he front: an open eye wit

nced a

low. "Don't

n with a grim mouth and sad eyes-nodded.

age in a clearing by the stream. The woods encircling Griefme

ok in his lap, and finally broke the si

into the flam

ned th

ke and wax wafte

ritten. Sloppy. Hastily

record. Let it speak

t. For each name, a memory.

rough the blood.

the Re

loser. "A regi

urned t

me

ned each page in c

sion. Some were mundane. Theft.

d, eyes

ld for bread. Spoke her name i

well to silence a crying

is brother. Lied again

ed the b

Every sacrifice

red, "He was k

He wasn't forgiving sins

weren't absolved.

aven Hollow... it wasn't just a priest

standing too. "It

-

like wool. The village behind them sat still and untouched-as

e blood on the chapel doors

registry again, carefully flipping

ve locations next to

er from horseback. "Look-the

d. River town. Trade center. Last I heard, they have

rgeted it," Elias said. "Les

his reins. "My cousin ser

up. "Do you

d

-

d Fenward b

with leaning buildings and shuttered stalls. The scent of salt and fish lingere

hung ove

like pressur

, "They look af

end of the market square. It was modest compared to Coldmere-a

, a woman stepped

r hair long and braided

rprise and caution d

eplied. "I wasn't sur

ired smile. "Most a

cked to Elia

o let them in, locking

Only two candles remained lit, flic

ons?" El

lied. "Most stopped coming w

ow?" Cla

onfession is heard. A private rite. Only one soul

lenched. "And yo

t the new priest-Father Alric-he came with seals and order

dy knew wha

rry a book

"Always. Black leath

t Elias. "Anot

to see it

kept it locked in the vestry

him open it," E

-

t have to

thin, with robes that looked more ceremonial than sacred. His mouth

nto the nave to

"You're not

"But I have some

leamed. "D

booth at the side of the chapel. He didn't noti

d, lit only by a slit

id the g

k, ch

d forward,

hem scream without tongues. I have stood whe

said n

"You

a sm

trike m

ed for h

st in, sw

t ope

c fr

t you're doing," th

k we do," E

sword raised. Miriel fo

s yours to command? No. It commands y

for the

str

ean

umpled to the floor, mouth open in a sile

ges fl

tepped

and pic

uietly, "Anot

pene

pped br

ed over hi

k was di

was writ

ns... there were

Burden-bearer. Thread

-bound. Voice of d

Unmarked. Sla

eed of fracture. Ta

shook. "Annali

s already fl

hundreds

cross

cir

underlin

itle. Not sin

ul-lanterns. V

his?" Tane

ry. "Not just confes

wh

ese people... they aren'

-

registry in the chape

ges, the chapel groaned. Stones crac

something w

lo

r

-

ara rode in silence,

nalise is awakening... do

"But if she is... it's not

this

pied pages he'd taken f

e said, "is a town

the sign o

" Clar

"It's a ruin. Burned down a ce

m. "Then that's exact