Therewasanirongiantindayspast.

Astarhadpassedover,anditfellfromitinaballof
fire.Itwasnotofthelivingworld.Ittoreattheearthwithclawsandbledtheearthdry.Itdid
notsleep,butitdideat.Itspokenoprophecyandgavenowarning.Ittookwhatitdesired.

Amongthetrees,takingcarenottotrampleoveryoungershoots,Rosamundcollected.
Theterrainmadeforslowgoing.Itwasspring,andtherootsofthelargertreesweregnarled
andmadedozensofloopsforherfeettogetstuck,whiletheseeminglyendlessexpansesof
swampandalluviumforcedacircuitousroutethroughthewilderness.Tendrilsfromwillowlike
trees,theirleavesdrawntothetasteofelectricity,tangledthemselvesinherjointsandslowed
heralreadylanguorouspacetoacrawl.Herdescenthadbeenfiery,andweeksonshecould
stillseethescorchmarksandcharredtreetopsfromherwake.
Onefullcircumnavigation,acompletesamplingofallbiomes,dominantlifeforms,andas
thoroughadocumentationofcivilizationaswaspossiblebeforeherscheduledemandedthat
sheprogressforward.Abuzzing,constantthoughtdroveheron,powerfulasthemigratory
instinctinanyanimal.Walk,walk,neverstoplooking,neverstopmoving,neverstop
collecting.
Rosamundbentdownandpickedaflower.Handswithinhandswithinhandsdancedover
thebody,everyactingasonetoprovidethemostcompleteimage.Onetraceditscirculatory
system,somewhatmoreefficientthanotherflowers.Afinespecimen,andsoonenoughitwas
jarredandsealedinRosamundschestalongsidetheothers.

Wewatcheditfromshadows,outofsightofitsgreateyeandoutofreachofitshungry
mouth.

Shecameacrossanumberofsmallcairns,hereyeseeingthroughthestonestoseethat
eachprotectedasingledessicatedcorpse.One,thelargest,containedonebodyandtwo
smallerones,thethreeofthemwrappedinwovenfabricanddecoratedwithgrainsofrare
gems,likeahandfulofsandletdropuponthem.Shecollectedthebodiesandthecairn
stonesalike.Shetookartifactsfromtheirrestingplaces,spoons,rugs,toys,anybitsofthe
ephemeraoflifethattriggeredtheinstincttotake.

Ittookmymotherandmybrothersfromtheirgraveandatetheirbodies.Wecouldnotlet
suchathingpassunanswered.

Anarmycametomeether,ahordeofflowerbannersandtendersaplingsbentoverwith
riverstonesthatsailedthroughtheairandclinkedagainstherarmsandthebulbous,
shatterproofglassofhereye.Thesoldiersofthisarmyrodesmall,chitinousungulates,like
armoredpiglets,andshecouldfeeltheirspearsclackingagainstherlegsastheycharged,
theirwroughtironheadsshatteringlikewateragainstrock.Theirretreatwasorganized,their
movementsorchestratedbyfalsettochirpsofofficers.
Somehadthecouragetoclamberontoherbodywithhammersslungfromtheirbelts,and
theseshesweptawayasthoughnothing,liketicks.Theysmashedintotrees,intotightly
packedformationsofslingers.Theirorganizationdissolvedasshecrushedthefirstwar

machineunderathumb,thenkickingapartanotherineffectualcavalrychargefromthechitin
riders.
Theremainingsoldierscoweredinhershadow,whileonespecimen,atallerindividual
withaprofusionofhornsandredcolorationaboutitsneck,stoodbeforeher,armsheldout,
chirpingatherinthelanguageofhispeople.

Itkilledhim,andwesawourMormaersuffer.Itriedtostopit,Perunhelpme,Itried.We
alltried,butwhatcanmortalsdoagainstErlik,deathwalker?

Shetookthespecimenwiththehornsandputhiminajar.Hewasgivenahumanedeath,
asperregulation,carbonmonoxidepumpedintohisjaruntilthebodyslumpedoverandhis
crownofrivergoldclatteredtinnyontheglass,manyofhissoldierkindragginglittleiron
bladesacrosstheirthroatsatthesightofitwhileothers,screechingmad,werepulledaway
intorootknollpalaces.Rosamundlookedovertheirabandonedwarmachinesandmadea
noteofitinherlogsbeforemovingon.

Welitfiresinthecanopythatnight.Weburnedthedeadshedleft,wesangourprayersto
thedarkandsawoursignalsansweredontherimoftheMountains.TheywouldbanishErlik
backtotherealmofthedead.Theyhadto.

Mountaingiants,tallandlitheaspillarswithmangrovehandslatcheduponherneckand
triedtobringRosamunddown.Theyhowledintheirrudelanguageandwereburnedfortheir
attempts.Herhandsreleasedclawedfingersthatslicedthroughbark.Toolargetotake
whole,sheaddedwhatshecouldtothecollection.
Alienfaunaopposedherateverystep.Wingedscreechersinapocalypserags,motley
cutsofeverycoloranddriventoberserkerfury,smashedintoherasshereachedfortheiregg
clutches.Lonewarriors,crustaceanroninwiththeiroathsinscribedupontheirshells,yelledat
herinbubblingspeechandstruckwithweaponandclawalike.Shesoonhadanarmoryslung
overherback.
Ancientfigureswithossifiedbodieslookedatherfromempty,dessicatedskullfaces.
Eachhadashockofhair,eachstrandwormingitswayintothebodyofsomecreatureshed
alreadyfought,thelotofthemscrapingtherocksformoistureandsaltandalgae.Whatthey
ate,someoftheirsustenancewasgiventotheirmasterastithe.Theycameatherwithnails
likedeadthingswithrottedoutlimbs,unnaturallystrongfortheirsize.Shetookmasterand
slavealikeastrophy.

WheretheBanhavefailed,wheretheRootkinhavefailed,wewillbevictorious.Theriders
ofArkadfell.Wewillnot.TheBlindMenandtheirslavescouldnotstandbeforeher,their
thaumaturgywasweak.Whereallothershavefailed,wewilldotheimpossible.Erlikshallbe
castbackintotheunderworld.

Armieshadcomeandgone,andherchestwasfillingupwithspecimens.Kingsand
warriorsandtheirmounts,thefaunaandfloraofadozenbiomes.Therewerelong,naked

centipedes,andcreaturesthatlookedliketortured,asymmetricalamalgamsoflimbsand
torsos.Shecarriedwiththeartifactsoftheirculture,iftheyhadany.Someofferedherbooks,
scrolls,tabletsofscrawledhistory,andshetookthesealongwiththemessengers.Herchest
wasatombforalltheworldshistory.
Oneracestruggledharderthanalltheothers.Simianinappearance,hugelymuscled,
wieldingcrudeaxesandspears,theirbeaksandclawsrendinglongtearsinhercarapace
hull.Oneofthemhadleaptfromarockandputthewholeofitsweightbehindonegreat
hammerblow,crackingtheglassofhereyeandsendinghertumblingdownthemountain.
Butsuchthingswerenotenoughtodeterherfromherquest,andsheclimbedthe
mountainagain,andagain,untilthelastonewasatiredwreck,surroundedbydeadkinand
burnedouthuts.Fromtherefuseshepickedoutthebestspecimens,takingteeth,measuring
skulls,eatingthechoicestbitsofartthatsurvivedtheinitialconflagration,aswasherway.
Themountainswereabountyofsentientlife.Thespiderlings,theapebirds,themonks,
greatbulbous,wideeyedsalamanderslivinginhotspringshrinesthatdottedtherange,an
entirecivilizationsworthofcultureinafewsteamingpools.Theylaidtheirdeadoutbefore
herinsplayedform,freshdead,infuneraldress.Shetooktheirphilosophiesandtexts,and
themummifiedbodyoftheirhighestdharmicparagon,guardedbyfelbeastsinhisresting
placehighnearamountainpeak.Thesetooshekilled,andtooktheirpelts,brains,and
muscletissueforthecollection.
Therewasavillageofarachnidcreatures,chthonicthingsthatskitteredonlong,oilylegs,
withfacesfullofemotionsandweteyes.Shereachedintotheirholesandpluckedouttheir
broodlings,theirseers.Thewarriorsofthevillagetriedtobiteher,andtheybroketheirteeth
onhersteelskin.Fangswereplucked,skinpulled,organsremovedandimmersedinparaffin,
everythingleadertoaclearerpictureoftheirpotentialuse.Aworldofresources,aworldof
workers,slaves,warriors,delicacies.

ItcannotbreachtheSunGate.Itisimpossible.ThisisnotErlik.TheGroulawillfeaston
thismonstersfleshandthatwillbetheendofit.Theirhandswillwringthelifefromitsneck
andtheonlysignthatthiscreatureeverlivedwillbetheloretattooontheGroulathatkilledit.

Onandon,formonths,shewasamistwalker,aspecterinthecrags,andshecouldsee
herselfintheworldaroundher.Onrocks,intheformofmoundsofearth,cairnsarrangedin
specificpatterns,acrudesymbologywasbeginningtoemerge,onesteepedinapocalyptic
loreandtheknowledgethatdeathstalkedtheland.
Allthatshesaw,moreofthespiderlings,theapebirds,peopleofthenemoralforestsbuilt
fortheheightsofthemountains,begantoleavethesameimageastheyfled.Itwasofheras
agiant,cruelandspiteful,withamawoffangsinherchest.Shecopiedeachimageasshe
cameacrossit,andsoontherewerehundredsofinstancesofherasdevil,asworldender,as
executioner.

Wecanrun.Thereisstilltime.

Nonecouldescape.Shepluckedwingsoffthebackoffaerielightmountainruminantsthat
brayedandkicked,andthatsheleftsplayedonthegrasswithcoagulating,twitching
limbstumps.Everythingfounditselfinajar,andshefeltmorewholewitheveryprize.filled.A
dozenartworkshere,amother,father,broodofchildrenthere.

Wearestoppingithere,now.Thereisnochoice.Youknowwhatitwilldotous.Areweto
simplyletittakeourchildren?OurKing?Areyoucowards?
Thegn,please
No,howcanweeverlookatourselvesknowingthatweallowedthistohappen?Erlik
cametousonce,arewecursedtohavehimcomeforever?Allmustdie.Whentheyspeakof
us,willtheysaywehandedoverourchildrenlikecattle,orthatwefoughtwithallourheartsto
savethem?

AsRosamundwasleavingthemountains,shecameacrossacity.Notacollectionofhuts
inacirclescratchedintotherock,butatruecity.Gargoylesscowledatherfromtheirrampart
heights.Sheknockedonthegatedoors,buttheywerebarredtightasthoughanothersection
ofthewall.Clawsout,shebegantoscalethewall.Thesoldiersaboveletfiremusketshot
andboilingpotsofpitch,andcriedoutthenameoftheircity.
WhenRosamundcrossedoverthefirstrampart,siegeenginesweretheretogreether.
Cannonandfusiladepoundedagainstherbody,sendingherreelingintostone.Thepitch
slickedoverherbody,hereye,andashellsetherbodyablaze,awalkinginferno.Sheflailed
asshelookedforasourceofwatertodousetheflames,sawnothingbutsnowandwood,
morepitch,morestone.
Shetrampledbuildingandembankmentalike.Citydwellersscurriedabouther,tallerthan
theforestraces,andproud.One,achampion,inblackenedsteel,heldhisshieldaloftand
bellowedachallengeatRosamund.Sheansweredwithablowfromherclaw.Hisshieldtook
thefullbruntofherblow,butthewarriorhimselfdidnotfall.Rather,hisbrothersandsisters
broughtfortharms,pikesandwarpicks,carbinesandgrenades,andbegantostrikeather
body.Theypuncturedmetal,brokethrougharmor,begantheworkofrippingapartthe
mechanicsinside.
Theirnumbersweremany,butRosamundwasRosamund,andthebodyofacollector
wasbuiltforsuchthings.Redundantsystemskickedintogearwhilerepairbots,likeredblood
cellsclottingoveranopenwound,floodedintothespaceswheretheattackershad
penetrated.Theswarmofmaintenancerobots,theinvisiblecityinsideRosamund,cameout
inforce.Swift,pikeandhammercouldnotcatchthem,andtheykilledandatewithequal
fervor,everysemblanceofrestraintremovedastheirhomecameunderthreat.
TheflamesonRosamundweredoused,theattackersbrokenbythenewthreatpouring
fromRosamundsopenwounds.Theycameoutinanirontideandsweptoveruntiltheyhad
amomentofpeacetospitoutanunguenttoreplacethescoredandrentmetal.When
Rosamundstoodupagain,herbodywasamessofgrime,scabs,andagreatspiderweb
crackrunningacrosshergreateye.Herclawswereblackenedfromyearsofendlesstoil
underthesun,andapatinahadstartedtogrowinsomeplaces.

Thedefenseswereshattered.Theartillerylayabandonedpeoplewerefleeinginthe
streets.Themissiontookprecedence.Rosamundrippedthetopsfromhouses,knocked
downwallstobuildingstogiveherhandfreedomtotakeintheartifacts.Thereweremany
moreherethanshedexpected,andsomanymorespecimenstotakein.Therewereartists
residences,andwarriorbarracks,temples,factories,smallbackyardfarms,shetookfrom
everystratauntilthecityitself,themanythousandsofcitizenssheddisplaced,stoodbefore
heratthefootoftheroyalpalace.
Therulingfamilywasalreadywaitingforher,anelderlymaninstatelyrobes,ayounger
wife,3children,andtheextendedfamily,countsanddukes,generalsandambassadors.
Rosamundtookthebestofthelot,theking,hiswife,amixofolderandyoungerchildren.The
castledoorswerenotenoughtostopherfromtakingpaintingsandjewels,tapestriesofthe
cityshistory,ajavelinheldonaraiseddaisunderastainedglasswindow.Thepeoplecould
onlywatchandbowtheirheadslowasRosamundtook,andate,andsoonleftthem,pressing
ontothenextsettlement.
Thepeopleofthecitydidnotforgether.Afamilyofthreestumbledintotheirhomeonthe
edgeofthecitywalls.Thehangarwasawreck,trampledbytheirongiantsfeet.Thefamily
lookedovertheirbrokenwalls,shatteredpaintings,fivebedstossedaboutasthoughfroma
dollshouse.Oneparenttookupapieceoftattersailclothfromoneofthebedsandletthe
windcarryitaway.

ThisgiantisnoErlik.Erlikstillslumbersinhisrealm.Erlikisthecataloguer,theonewho
knowsandsees.Akeeperofthedead,heknowswhatisandwhatwas.Hewillseethisgiant
andknowthatitdoesnotbelonghere.Thisfalsedeathwalkerwillbepunished.

Thesearoiledandspatfoamingreatheavingwaves.Cloudsformedastormshelfthat
crashedheadlongintothetradewindsandpushedawindstormintothecoast.Asingle,
shiningdotranacrossthewater,andRosamundfollowed.TheEasternContinentremained,a
long,emptytractoflandthatwasoflittleinterestduringinitialscans.Yetthisthingluredher.It
wastheimperativeofherprogrammingtogivechase.Shedidnothavethepowerofthe
GreatMinds,hadbutafractionoftheirthoughtweftinsideofher,justenoughtokeepthe
instinctdriveclearandprecise.
Thedot,awingedmachinewithastrobe,foughthardagainstthewind.Itspilotlooked
backtowardsRosamund,leanedforwardinthecockpitandkeptatruecourse.Sandanddust
werealreadyonthewind,thepilotcouldtastethemineralandthedrynessintheair,and
evenundercloudyskiesschoolsoffishandcephalopodswentabouttheirfeedingwith
desperatealacrity.Rosamundignoredtheseandchasedaftertheglider,itsformseizingup
asitflittedbetweenpocketsofrisingwarmair.ThewaveswerenothingtoRosamund,there
wasonlythegreatinstincttoseizetheglider,totakeitspilot,itsinventor,puttheminajar,
andbeonherway.

IwilltakethisimpostortothehomeofErlik.Hewillrisefromhisslumberandsee.
Soweriskwakingonemonstertoslayanother?Didyouforgethisothernames?
Deathwalker,Plaguebringer,Childtaker.

Erlikisapartofthisworld.Thisisapretender,ademonfromPerunknowswhere.You
wouldhaveitkeepwalking,whenhalftheworldcriesforvengeance?

Thedesert,whensplayedoutbeforethegliderandRosamund,madethebothofthem
hesitate.Morethananexpanse,itwasdeath,endlessdunes,scrubbrush,andsteepinclines
thatpromisedtoswallowanythingthatfellintothem.
Thegliderpilotputhandtoeyestoshieldfromthenewlyfreedsunsglarewhile
Rosamundtestedthesandwithtentativesteps.Therewasthesoundofcreakingmetaland
strainingmechanics.Rosamundwaswalking,andthegliderbegantojerkinpanickedcircles.
Overadune,thefirstblackobeliskrose.Erectedinthetimesbeforecivilization,inscribed
withthetaleofErlik,Deathwalker,plaguebringerwhenthepeopleofthegreatcitywereyet
steppedwellers,itshowedthewaythroughthedesert.
Thepilotfollowedthepath,smallcairnsandearthenmoundsblownintounrecognizable
shapesbythesands,untilthenextappeared,thenthenext,thenthenext,eachoneleading
deeperintothedesert.Thegraveoffirstpeoplessprangintosight,rowsofjaggedstone
curvedintothedeathspineSofancientavians.
Thegliderflewintothenight,backtomorning,andtheobeliskswerecloseenoughnow
thepilotcouldseeadozenallinarow,leadingtotherestingplaceofErlik,thehelltorncave
inthecenterofthedesert,itstruecenter,fromwhichbothallthingsgoodandallthingsevil
firstcameintotheworld.Rosamundwasfarbehind,aduststormonthehorizonsedge.
Thepilotlandedtheglideratthemouthofthecaveandapproached,layingdownofferings
forErlik,flowersusedtoperfumethedead,seasoningforhiscookingpot,goldtopayforhis
servicesandtokeephimfromlookingforwork.Wivestalesandsuperstitionscarryingmore
weightthanscienceorhistoryinamomentofdesperaterevenge.Thepilotkneltinprayerand
begantorecitethetaleofthefalsedeathwalker,ofRosamundtheCollector.
Darknessenvelopedthepilot.Timesped,clankingfootstepscouldbeheardoutside.
Rosamundstoodbeforetheentrancetothecave,herscannerswhirringatfullcapacitytotry
andbreachtheblackwallbeforeher.Thelightseemedtoflickerinandoutofexistence,and
therewasasignoflifeinside,thesmallestsliverofbodywarmthinthecolddark.Shetook
onestep,feltnothing.Anotherstep,hersensorswentblind.Thedarknesswasasheet,a
physicalthingthatdrankthemoonlightandthereflectionsfromthedunes.

Icouldfeelthefalsedeathwalker.Itsheavystepsmadethewallsthemselvesshakeand
dusttofallfromtheceiling,butIcouldnotsee.Icouldnotfeelthetruedeathwalkeruntilhe
wasalreadyuponme.Itwastoolateformetorun.

Youareacollector?avoiceinthedarksaid.Itwasraspy,andtheRosamundpausedat
thefactthatitcouldunderstandthewords.Ifyouareacollector,youareapoorone.Lookat
whatyouhave.TalesofyourexploitshavetraveledfromthemountainsofCaranthand
acrosstheseaallthewaytomyhome.
ClawsreachedoutforRosamund,grippedherarmsandtorelonggashesinherarmor.
Therepairerinsideherwenttowork,butapoisonateatthemandtheyfellingoutsfromthe
openwound.Erliksclawsdrippedwithvenom.

Thisismyworld.Iclaimeditlongbeforeyouwereasparkinyourcreatorsmind.Erlik
said.Hewascomingintothelight,thedarknessbeingakindofprojectionofhisownpower.
Hehadasmall,lumpenhead,andwalkeduponaclusterofmantidlegs.Hisarmswere
many,andofdifferentshapes,butallwererapaciousandstrongenoughtoliftupRosamund
fromthegroundandholdherinplace.
Thepilotshieldedhiseyesandpressedhimselfintoacornerasthetitansfought.Erlik
screamedandthesoundwastheessenceofwar,stonebeinggroundtodustandempires
crashingdowninawaterfalldescent.
Rosamundfoughtback.Theinstincttobefree,toescape,poundedagainsteveryfiberof
herbeing.Erlikwasunlikeanythingelseshedseen.Taller,stronger,nodistinctsignsof
origin,skinunsuitedforthedesert,itsbloodshowing
Erliklashedoutwithonehandandtorewiththeother.Aclawedhandfoundabreakinthe
armorandpulledapartthechestplates.Layerspeeledawayandmadpanicsetin.
Specimenswerefalling,dozensofshatterproofjarstumblingontotherocksasshefought
againstErlik.
Youclaimtobeme?Isthisajoke?Iknowyourkind,filthygrubs,sendingtheirtoystodo
theworkthatshouldbetheirs.
Theystruggled.Sheflungoffthebodyofthedeathwalkerandherclawswereready.
Clawsmetchitinandneitherbudged,untiltheybothwenttumblingintotheveil.
TheyweredeepintothecaveofErliknow.Pasttheartificialdarknessitwaslitbythedim
glowofbioluminescentinsectsandtheirpredators,strobinginoddcolorsandflappingin
desperate,hugeswarmsasErlikpassedunderthem.Rosamundseyeadjusted,andshe
couldseewallslinedwithtrophies.Therewereforestpeople,andaGroula,andamandala
madeofbodiesofmonksalamanders.Therewerewyvernwhales,andschoolsofdriedfish
hungfromwires,andleavesofeveryfloraflattenedagainstthewallinagreatmosaicof
autumnalrefuse.
Rosamundssystemsbegantolag.Shecommandedherarmtoriseupandstrike,foundit
unresponsive.Thesamewentforherlegsandfortheraceofmachinesinsideher.Allwere
deadandshrivellingup.
Thereweretwostonepinionsonthewallandheusedthemashedlearnedsomany
centuriesbefore.Jaggededgeswereputtouseinbreakingjoints,insplayingopen.
Rosamundsprogrammingselfterminated,realizingthatallwaslost.Afinalattemptwas
madetoreachouttotheGreatMindsandtheirthoughtweft,buthereyesputteredoutandthe
lightinitdied.Shewasaddedtothewall,hungfromstonehooks,levelwiththeeyesofthe
trueErlik,deathwalkerturnedsavior.
Thepilotrummagedthroughthejarsasbesthecould.Manywerelargerthanhim,well
preserved,manyofthemonecouldhavemistakenasliving,sodelicateandpeacefulwere
theirdeathposes.Therewasajarwiththeking,hiskinnearby,butthepilotcouldnotshatter
themfreetogivethemburial.Soundsofcombatechoedupfromwithinthecave,butthepilot
ignoredthemthebesthecould.Somejarswereshatteredontherocks,onewithalongdead
woodkinmotherandherchildren,anotherwithsomebeastfromthemountains,athirdwith
thejavelinfromthepalacetreasury.

Thepilotburiedtheoneshecouldandslungthejavelinoverhisshoulder.Thegliderwas
abrokenheapfromthefighting,andthepilotdidnotwishtowaittoseethevictorofthefight
within.ThesignsofErlikwereeverywhere,andwhentheonlysoundswereheavyfootfalls,
hebeganthelongtrekbacktohiscity.

Themonsterisdead,addedtoErlikscollection.
Canyoubesure?
Yes.IsawErlik.Isawhishome,heacceptedmyofferings.Isawhimcarrythefalse
deathwalkerintothedark.
Butareyousure?
Haveyouheardmorestoriesofit?Hasittakenanyonesincemyflight?Havetherebeen
storiesfromthepeoplesuntouchedbyit?Thenitisdead,takenbyErlik,andthinknomoreof
it.

Erliksteppedfromhiscaveintothenightair.Desertwindsblowcoldatnight,andthechill
feltgooduponhisskin.Theobeliskswerecatchingthemoonlightandshowingapathfrom
hishomeallthewaytotheedgeofthedesert.Hefoundhissittingrockandrested.Hisarms
shookfromtheexertionofrestrainingthemetalimpostor,falsedeathwalker,andhisheadfelt
woozyaftersolongwithoutsuchexercise.
Hepickeduponeoftheabandonedjarsandflippeditoverinhishands.Itwasagorgeous
specimen,oneofthenomadicchieftainsthatdealtinsaltfrommountainsoftheeastern
continent,whoworeanimalpeltsandthefinestsilksinequalmeasure,thechieftainshorns
protrudingslightlyfromhisfelthat.Andtherewassomethingelse,alongrod,agun.Since
whendidtheyhaveguns?Andthefabrics,whatbrilliantpatterns,somuchmorevibrantand
complexthanthechieftainfromhisowncollection.
Erlikplayedwiththejar,thencollectedtheothers,morethanevenhismanyhandscould
carryatonce.Settingthemonashelfinhiscave,helookedoverhercollection.Finepieces,
all,agloriousnobleMormaer,beautifulcarcharachnidfangs.Andthejars,somethingwasso
muchmoresatisfyingwiththeaddedsymmetry.
HewenttothebodyofRosamundandproddedinherchestuntilthelastfewdozenjars,
empty,spilledout.Hetooktheseandjuggledthembetweenhishandsbeforelookingatthe
newadditionstohiswallandthewide,emptyspaceleftjusttotheleft,inneedoffilling.