（外文电子版资料）Charles Ingrid - Burning Bridges.pdf

BURNING BRIDGES Charles Ingrid ACT II TO stand in the throne city of Sshen was to stand in the midst of a province walled city, filled with cacophony and culture, to be overcome by a vast, dark tide of peoples. its quarters . . . city-states, in actuality . . . of peoples and classes, threaded throughout military presence of the Sshen and emperor. To go within the inner walls of the city, palace complex itself, was to stand in the wash of the radiance of the greatest the world that called itself Lunavar. It was to want to be inside the palace, to study, to one with its greatness and mystery. To be admitted meant submitting oneself to the mage the emperor, to be examined and memorized before being allowed into the museum and of knowledge, antiquities, and beauties. And, while studying, being studied. To go inside meant days of kneeling in silent petition. No one was quite sure what would see the petition granted but scholars were allowed within by the handful. He inside. He had to get inside. He had a blood debt that could only be paid by getting inside. So Brennan wrapped himself in black and knelt on the steps of the palace by the wing and fasted and meditated and keenly observed the doors, windows, floors, balconies, and guards through the veil gauze masking his face. He left at night, as the did, and broke his fast, but unlike the others, Brennan made sketches of what he had dictated and copied what he had to his mainframe server, and when he returned in the he knelt in a different place to expand his observations. He would not be denied. But midway through the third morning, the eldest of the elders approached him quietly. have been watching you, scholar. Come wit