As his sister shook her head once more, he grasped her by the skull, raising her face up. He did not hold her tight. He did not harm her. He was not a monster. “Remember,” he said, voice low, nearly drowned out by the sonorous song, “that you have brought this upon yourself. Remember that you have betrayed your family and denied your name. If you do not rise… sister, remember that you have chosen to ruin yourself, and I have done all in my power to help you. Remember that.” The priest touched his torch to the pyre. The wood, slowly, began to burn. Firelight reflected in her eyes. She looked at
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