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Bitterness twisted his heart

Unlike the Irin fathers, Volund and the other angels did not share knowledge with their children They didn’t trust theh Didn’t believe them worthy After all, they were half-human They were servants and soldiers, not true sons

The young scribe before hih to huelic blood had been tempered by time and distance The Irin were mere shadows of their forefathers But thescribe’s arone Blood covered the youngStrips of skin had been gouged froe’s brother handed him a flap of skin they had carved froe said softly, kneeling beside the scribe as tied to the chair

The roeaker by the ic And by carving off the spells, the Grigori had neutralized the scribe’s only advantage

"That’s what you call it, correct?" Brage held up the skin "Your very first spell? The one that all the others draw froant?" He stood and shook his head, as if chastising a child "They didn’t, did they? Your elders teach you that you are superior to us Your ic," he spat out "It makes you so blessed You are the favored of heaven The weak Grigori with little e leaned down and brought his knife to the young man’s neck He winced when the knife cut in and the blood welled around the wound "Tell me where the Istanbul scribes are," he murmured, "and I’ll kill you quickly"

The scribe’s throat worked to respond "No," he choked out

Brage slid the knife under the skin of the young man’s neck It stretched and slowly stripped the flesh away as he screae whispered

"Never"

It went on for hours, the slow interrogation Brage was forced to revive the young man a number of times By the fourth tie kneas delirious and close to breaking

"This is not your battle, child" He placed a cool cloth on the scribe’s bloody forehead, gave theIrin scribe How old are you?"

"For…forty-three"

"See?" Brage said "You are practically a child You are alone Tell , with their brothers at their sides They will not condepaths in the crusted blood and sweat

"Tell e whispered

"Vienna," he finally choked out "Th…they were driving to Vienna"