Lucian nearly pushed the Loom off of the table when he heard Alice's voice.
"What does the Loom say? Is it going to solve your problem?"
The Loom was pulsing faintly in his hands like a heart struggling to keep its beat. The woven square hadn't vanished. It was still a complex Penance Glyph, and Alice's name glowed softly in the center.
The Loom's design was complete. It was surrounded by the elegant lines of borrowed life, griefcraft, and forbidden bondwork. Lucian hadn't spoken in an hour since the Loom revealed the cost.
He hadn't even asked Gethra for water.
"Ah--I don't know yet, I'm still translating the complete glyph. Gethra's been helping me all this time."
Gethra nodded and tilted her head in Lucian's direction. "It's difficult to translate some of the more advanced ones. Sorry it's taking us a minute."
