“In days long past,” he finally said, “we and others of the Gardenborn did speak through the particular objects that could act as Witnesses: Stones and Scales, Pools and Pyres. Through these things—and through some others, like Nakkiga’s great Harp—the world of the Gardenborn was tied together with strands of thought and speech. But we Tinukeda’ya had forgotten much even before mighty Asu’a fell, and had grown far apart from those who lived there . . . those who we had once served.” “Asu’a?” Eolair said.