What, in all of Lykke, would I gain from him pointing out my limitations once more? I would not come to him. I would remain at a distance so he could not offend me further. I had hoped to like this pyre, after all, and he had already ruined that. Best not to develop a hatred.

<<If you will not come, let me drink from you>>.

I grinned. For he had clearly lost his pyre-shaped mind. Drinking the blood of another formed bonds. And bonds required trust. The humans who forced pyres to drink from their throats for pleasure perverted that power by forging bonds out of malice rather than pure intention. It drained their lives, and so they craved ecstasy more and more. The more pyres were made to drink, the more the humans craved. It was a cycle of dissatisfaction requiring more and more pyres to drink themselves to sleep.

I had no intention of gaining pleasure from this pyre. And I would not let him gain pleasure from me. I put my hands firmly behind my back, clasping them together.

He smirked. <<I was not planning to force you>>.

Good. I would have to put him swiftly to Sleep.

His smirk turned to a smile, though it failed to light his solemn eyes. <<You need never fear me>>.

What a pointless conversation. I would not dare waste my fear on something I could rival.

His smile left his face like the melting snow left the branches. <<I must put the child to rest. He is my responsibility>>.

Responsibility? I did not believe him. Instead, I pushed past him to retrieve my boots and left for home, both thoroughly clean and highly annoyed.

Episode 34: A Pyre Going Over The Head Of A Young Woman

The rage of the river must have gotten trapped in my bones, for it poured out of me when I saw that the pyre who I’d interfaced with at the bank was standing before me outside of the Kendrick stables.

He was sharing intentions with Rosemary, who had her arms folded in front of her, her body positioned between this pyre and the entrance to the stables.

He had gone behind my back. No. Worse. He had gone over my head.

I approached the situation, still grasping my soiled clothing, and shoved the pyre’s shoulder so that he turned his attention to me. I noticed Rosemary’s eyes widened at my action and that she dropped her arms, as if waiting to see what would happen next.

The pyre was not happy that I had pushed him, but he did not retaliate. Instead, he set piercing eyes on me.

<<I said I needed the child>>, he intended.