s begin!" the

of ceremonial Si

wooden figures, used by our

Elara," the host turned to m

's favorite bran

at Tiffany, who preene

was trivial

sacred ite

ined s

even if I had an answer, even if

host said with mo

t the biddi

t, driven by bravado

th a loud laugh

ring of a spirit owl, and without a

caught, sputter

story, then tossed the burni

ter e

lapped de

, the image sear

r, once sacred, now just

silent scream in the

ched, i

y lap, built on the