nce of t

. The walls, black as the moonless night, exuded a nameless sadness. The carved columns had humanoid shapes, misshapen,

ray tunic fell over her thin body like a second skin. The sandals were hardened leather, uncomfortable, and h

essity. To speak would mean to explain. To explain would mean

ace. It was something deeper, as if the ashes spoke a wordless language. In the village, her mother had once t

o look up when she felt the change in the

n she s

ed high-ranking Keepers. His dark hair fell to his shoulders, and his face-grave, angular-seemed sculpted by wind and ash. T

ld her

tn't speak. She mustn't stand out.

, but powerful. As if he were speak

er. She gestured slightly w

e sounded curious, not incredulous.

as her on

was just watching. Asha felt she was being evaluated not by

walked to the tallest urn on the altar, p

Just a faint glow, like embe

id, without turning around, "

he l

stopped beating until his foo

neath H

, Asha cou

ver her. But the cold she felt wasn't coming from the stones: it

k behind her eyes. She had done nothing to impress him.

had h

er. What was it like to be around someone like that every day? Was he par

ried leaves, a bowl, and a black candle. The ritual was simple: light the candle b

Living Memory was to h

oft voice inside her. Not words, but someth

ed the double doo

. Ag

in front of him. He wasn't holding it in his hands. It wa

mmediately. But she fel

aga

it the candle as she'd been t

ings better answers t

hen his to

pers don't allow slaves

swer. She hel

re afraid they

eir eyes met. He didn't reprimand her. He didn't punish her. He just

if an invisible hand were caressing the b

didn't touch it, but a trai

you deny it. And fire, soone

appeared down the side passage,

o her knees

ns Witho

ht, Asha

f ash. That each step sank her deeper. That a voice called

mem

g to her body. Soot marks on her hands. A

but the beginning. That something connected her to this man, something beyond o

it. I knew it. I

at can't be se