The Wreckage of Paradise.pdf - Dice

Her back was slumped, and matted black hair hungdown in front of her eyes.“Sabriel, I’m. .. shit, I’m so sorry. ..”“You don’t have to apologize to me,” she said. “Slavesdon’t get apologies.”Teddy had chewed out Blackie, long and hard. In fact,he was louder and angrier with his bastard son than he’dever been with his lawful one-more vicious and abusivethan he’deverbeenwithanyoneinhislife. Alltheanger andresentment he’d held inside, all the horror at his wife’sdeath, all the guilt that he felt for sleeping with her murderer... it all came spewing out, and once it started hecouldn’t seem to stop it.The two of them argued so loudly and long that Teddywas in no mood to listen to Lance talk about his new friend.He ignored it, dismissed it as a lucid moment that wouldsoon pass. The only thing that finished the shouting matchwas when Blackie started building a bonfire for the ceremony.“Maybe when you’re fully pledged to the goddess, you’llbe more responsible,” Teddy said, unbuttoning his shirt.“Sure, whatever.” Blackie kept shoving logs. Then hestopped. “What are you doing?”‘We should be naked for the ritual.”Blackie sighed. “Look, I know that’s how it is in thedreams, but do you mind if I keep my clothes on? I mean,this is going to be hard enough without.. .”“Fine! Shit, you are the most consciousperson1 know!”Blackie recognized his father’s foulest insult.Once Blackie bucked the nudity trend, Dagley tried todo so as well-but Avitu insisted. Gaviel slipped out of hisclothes easily, folding them in a tidy pile on a tarp, like Timand Teddy. Hasmed rolled his eyes, shook his head andremained clad. So did Thomas, and the pair from the firstlonghouse-once Blackie had sacrificed Lance, Teddywouldtake over and do them. Sabriel asked Thomas if she shouldstrip or not, and he told her no.Qm