( She nods, bitterly and without heat or high purpose. There is a soft quality of her gestures, guided by her serpents. )
Mountains do not think as people. Sanwon has been appeased by human tribute before. No other sacrifice.
( Though, she need not add, they have tried to satisfy the volcano with crops and gifts of wine and incense. Nothing. )
They send ten to the House of Ravens. Ten from each village. Then, one is chose of each faction. And the rest are... they enter. But they are not chosen.
( As for the second matter, she is distracted first by her snake, who whispers sibilantly in her ear. Once more, she cups a hand over its back, teaches it patience. )
I did not know the wanderer well. But he seemed... kind. Sad, but kind. He seemed to drift, from place to place. As if he sought something. He did not like our ways. Our... fear. He thought the House of Ravens was madness and, when he found Hyang-Won, he proposed an alternative. We took it.
( Better tributes alive to a man who seemed opposed to culling, than death guaranteed. )
no subject
Mountains do not think as people. Sanwon has been appeased by human tribute before. No other sacrifice.
( Though, she need not add, they have tried to satisfy the volcano with crops and gifts of wine and incense. Nothing. )
They send ten to the House of Ravens. Ten from each village. Then, one is chose of each faction. And the rest are... they enter. But they are not chosen.
( As for the second matter, she is distracted first by her snake, who whispers sibilantly in her ear. Once more, she cups a hand over its back, teaches it patience. )
I did not know the wanderer well. But he seemed... kind. Sad, but kind. He seemed to drift, from place to place. As if he sought something. He did not like our ways. Our... fear. He thought the House of Ravens was madness and, when he found Hyang-Won, he proposed an alternative. We took it.
( Better tributes alive to a man who seemed opposed to culling, than death guaranteed. )