Chapter Twelve Page Seven, Bren, The Memorial Center Grand Chamber

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So it was good.

The flower was a very good blood sculpture to get.

Bren had the impression that she was about to get in over her head again, the way she had when she’d accepted the red key from the Amaurotic Trickstress. She wasn’t sure if she was in further than last time though. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know.

“In somber shadow, in broken shade,” the woman said, speaking to the pews, “The light of the Autarch guides and strengthens. For death we may not fear, but welcome, at our choosing. For we live eons while others live momentarily. For we may end the threads of fate as we see fit, scraping as a woodcarver, thinning the strings; our prerogative.”

Bren saw that the Scanners saw themselves as gods among men. Playing deity to fate and justice.

“In brightest sun, in blessed sight,” Blackwell said to the pews, “The dark corners of our Autarch’s strength keeps us safe and strikes down our foes. For we have life, while fragile, eternal. We may never fear death, while others live each day as their last. For we may join together seed and ground, sewing as a farmer, raising our crops; our objective. Without that which has risen us from the ground, from above and below, we would have nothing,” the man said.

“With Brenda Alba as a member,” the woman said, “We now step forward into the light of a new age. The Red Rose has come.”

Bren turned to look at the audience. They parroted the woman, “The Red Rose has come.”

“May the Autarch be showered with a thousand eulogies,” the woman said.

“A thousand eulogies,” the Scanners said.

“Lead us from the dark when the light is required,” Blackwell said.

“Lead us from the dark when the light is required.”

“Into dark when we wish to hide from light,” the woman said.

“Into dark when we wish to hide from light.”

“Take the rose,” Blackwell said, looking at Bren.

Bren reached forward. She didn’t want to hesitate. She just wanted this stupid, fucking, ceremony to end so she could start figuring out where Hopeful Serenity might be hiding.

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