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{\*\ftnsep\chftnsep}\pgndec\pard\plain \s3\rtlch\af7\afs28\ab \ltrch\hich\af3\loch\sb140\sa120\f3\fs28\b\dbch\af5\ql\sb140\sa120\ltrpar{\loch
Interlude \u8212\'97 }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
Twilight Between Embers}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
(Set between "Ashes of the First Flame" and "Embers of Penance")}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The prison wasn\u8217\'92t made of stone.\line It was made of silence.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Time hung thick in the glade\u8212\'97an amber hush where breath dared not linger. The trees here twisted away from the center, as if ashamed to witness. Thorned vines hummed with latent judgment. The air shimmered with the memory of light, but offered none.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
And at the heart of it, she waited.\line Bound in threads spun from radiance and regret.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
She did not slumber. Slumber was a kindness. She merely }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
endured.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Her wings, once born of stolen sunrise, drooped in reverent disrepair. Her eyes\u8212\'97still open\u8212\'97reflected nothing but distance.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
She felt the shift before it arrived.\line Something in the glade recoiled.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth stepped through the fold in the world, barefoot and burning. Her antlers curled with molten stillness, her expression unreadable. Where she walked, petals bloomed and blackened in the same breath.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The figure in the web of radiant bindings did not move. But her voice cut cleanly through the hush.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
So they remembered me.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth stopped at the edge of the lattice. \u8220\'93They remembered }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
him.}{\loch
\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
A pause. Then\u8212\'97soft laughter. \u8220\'93Of course they did. He never stays buried.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
He remembers his name.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
That drew a reaction. A flicker. A shiver in the bindings. Not fear. Not yet.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
Has he spoken it?\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth shook her head. \u8220\'93Not aloud. But it }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
moves in him}{\loch
 now. Beneath the skin. Beneath the fire.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
A smile touched the prisoner\u8217\'92s lips\u8212\'97crooked and glassy. \u8220\'93Then he\u8217\'92s finally waking up.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth\u8217\'92s tone was colder than flame. \u8220\'93He }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
survived}{\loch
 the forest.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
I knew he would.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
You hoped he would.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The bound woman\u8217\'92s wings stirred. Glamour fractured along the edges. \u8220\'93Hope. Fear. What\u8217\'92s the difference when the fire is already lit?\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth stepped closer. The air between them turned brittle. \u8220\'93You made him from something that was never yours.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
I shaped what others abandoned.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
You twisted what should have healed.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
And you,\u8221\'94 the prisoner murmured, \u8220\'93}{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
burned}{\loch
 what should have been forgotten. Spare me your lectures.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth\u8217\'92s expression didn\u8217\'92t shift. Her voice became stiller. Older. \u8220\'93He is coming.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
A beat of silence. Then\u8212\'97}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
Here?\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
Yes.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The prisoner exhaled slowly. Her breath glittered with divine residue. \u8220\'93Will he hate me?\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth did not answer.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Another breath. \u8220\'93Will he understand?\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
No,\u8221\'94 the Keeper said. \u8220\'93He will }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
remember.}{\loch
 That is worse.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
A faint grimace. \u8220\'93I never wanted him to forgive me.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
Then you may yet get what you deserve.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The bindings pulsed. A single thread of light snapped, almost too quiet to hear.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth stepped back, fire dimming in her bones. \u8220\'93He carries judgment now. Not the kind born of wrath\u8230\'85 but of }{\loch\cs15\rtlch\ai \ltrch\loch\i\loch
choice.}{\loch
\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The prisoner\u8217\'92s eyes closed for the first time in an age. \u8220\'93He was always beautiful when choosing the fire.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The Keeper said nothing.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
As she turned to leave, the air folded around her like mourning silk.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
From within the glade, a final question chased her:\line \u8220\'93If he asks me why\u8230\'85\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Iridesseth\u8217\'92s voice came like a whisper inside a wound.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{
\u8220\'93}{\loch
Then let him tear the answer from your throat.\u8221\'94}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
And she was gone.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The glade fell silent.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
The bound woman remained still for a long time.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
And then\u8212\'97\line She smiled.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Not with joy.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
But with resignation.}
\par \pard\plain \s17\loch\sl276\slmult1\sb0\sa140\ql\ltrpar{\loch
Because the fire she once kindled is walking.\line And it remembers the hand that lit the match.}
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af7\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\ql\widctlpar\hyphpar0\sb0\sa0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af5\langfe2052\ql\ltrpar\loch

\par }