"Her thea?"
"Talk to her. Get her to drink something."
"Hush, Lara." Papa's voice sounded odd somehow, but it was deep and gentle and his cool
hands touched my face. "Be easy. I am here, little one." A cup clinked against my teeth.
"Drink."
I swallowed as the water flowed into my mouth, easing the dryness within. I let myself relax
back into Papa's arms, soothed. I was safe, safe, Xymund couldn't get me here. The flames
could still hurt me though, and Papa rocked me in his arms.
But when had Papa been so badly burned?
I stood by the well in the village square, which was silent and dark. As I looked about, I saw
the morning larks laying on the ground, their little legs stiff, their songs silenced. As I covered
my mouth in horror, the doors of the
buildings opened, and the dead began to emerge. They were moving slowly, murmuring over
and over, stumbling toward me, their eyes glittering with rage.
The door of the shrine opened and Epor stepped out, his gentle, smiling face easing my fears. I
called out to him, and he started toward me. But as he grew closer, his face contorted into a
snarl and he joined the villagers in their chant. "You killed us. You killed us."
"No, no, no, oh, Goddess, forgive me, please forgive me, Epor."
I pressed against the well, feeling the windlass cut into my back. They kept coming, pressing
in, chanting their accusations. Rahel stood there, her arms raised, cursing me in a voice that
rose to the skies.
I turned, looking into the well, seeking escape. But the dead were there, too, their arms lifted
as if to pull me into the depths. I cried out again, terrified and looked back to see Epor before
me, his club raised to strike me down. "Epor, please don't hurt me!"
"Epor would never hurt you, Lara."
"She can't hear you, Isdra."
Terrified, I sought a way to the gate. But the dead had piled themselves at my feet, their dead
and dry carcasses pressed against my legs like cord wood. Xymund stood before me, the
madness dancing in his eyes, with a flaming brand in his hand. "Die, whore."
He threw the torch at my feet, The flames flared up, I cried out…
