The last light has faded. The bonfire is lit and the fireflies are glowing merrily. The scent of wood-smoke is in the air. Three of the identical serving men have taken up instruments from the bower and have begun to play, varying between soft ballads and dancing tunes. By the fire, a large silver pail holds small, glittering crystals ( Read more... )

It’s dark when the Keep’s newest guests arrive. The cold night air has seeped into the stones of the barracks sending a chill throughout the rooms. No fire has been laid, no lamp lit to beat back the cold or dispel the dark. Each cell remains exactly as it has for months on end, almost as though no one were expecting the small rooms to be occupied ( Read more... )