Episode 8

> We take harm against your fellow acolytes very seriously. You must understand this and get it into your heads as soon as possible. We had a murder and an attempted rape. These things may be tolerated by the cockwhorshipping followers of Aa, covering up for their priest to keep their public image clean. But it won’t be brushed under the rug or tolerated in the church of the Mother. She is justice, she is ending, wrath and revenge. She is in control here and she only deals in pain deserved and paid for. Don’t think you can undermine her work.
>
> Aalea addressing the remaining acolytes, **Death & Dreaming**

SHORT SUMMARY

## Synopsis

**CN: mentions of attempted rape**

Before Aalea leaves with Nadya, she instructs the boys not to tell anyone what they have seen, to go get cleaned in the baths and to be nice and take care of each other.

While the four of them are gone, Agrippa, Julius and Petra don’t know where to find their friends, since they haven’t seen them leave. In a drunken stupor Petra picks the locks of the camel stables, wanting to ride one to better find their friends. Agrippa muses that it would be easier to get to their friends on something that had four legs. As they get out with the camels, Julius doesn’t manage to control his camel, which starts wandering off into the desert. Agrippa can get to him before he wanders off, leaving the camel to run into the desert on it’s own. A hand comes up to them, furiously stating how expensive camels are and that the most expensive one got away.

When Aurelius, Caeso and Xanthus get cleaned up in the baths, Caeso suggests that they maybe shouldn’t be alone a lot of the time, since it would be good to have someone to be their alibi. Petra, Julius and Agrippa arrive in the baths, noticing their bloodied clothes. They tell them that they cannot talk about it. So Agrippa, Petra and Julius try to explain to them what happened with the camels earlier.

Meanwhile Nadya finds herself arriving at Mother Drusillas office. Aalea excuses herself, because she needs to get cleaned up, not wanting to look like this at dinner. She explains that she also needs to tell Bianca what happened, before she can announce it to everyone. She wishes Nadya good luck and leaves, giving her a quick cheek kiss. When Nadya enters, there seems to have been a conversation between Mother Drusilla, Mouser and Spiderkiller, Solis staring annoyed at his cup of tea. Spiderkiller offers her some tea, she takes it, sniffs it and doesn’t drink it. She can smell that there is something strange about the tea. It’s a loosener, lowering peoples inhibition, similar to being a bit drunk. They ask where Nadya was the night Leo got murdered. She tells them that she was in her room until she heard a scream and when she went to check it came from Caeso. She confirms that she stayed the night. Mother Drusilla asks if Caeso would confirm this and if he told them the same story. When asked if anyone else could confirm this, Nadya says that Aurelius saw her enter. They ask Nadya if they slept, stating that there could have been a time where Caeso slipped out, she tells them that this is unlikely but possible. Mouser continues the questioning, asking her if she ever was in Galante, she states that she has been many times, doing business as a merchant. He asks if Nadya had any reason to meet Liisian radicals. She has heard of them but never interacted with them, as far as she knows. Mouser asks Nadya if she has ever met Leo before. She answers by saying that she doesn’t think she has, adding *»I have been on the road for the past ten years. You see a lot of people and you forget even more.«* Mouser seems quite amused by this, saying that he knows that feeling. When asked, Nadya says she has never been in Leo’s room, nor has she seen any activity around his door. When asked if she knows anyone who has been in his room, she lies, claiming she does not know. Mother Drusilla asks Nadya for her theories on what she thinks has happened. Nadya takes this as a prompt, asking if they are willing to share any details on it, to help with her deduction. Mother Drusilla says this wouldn’t be wise at this point. Nadya tells her that she thinks Caeso has been framed, probably by someone who wanted to get rid of two potential competitions. When asked if she has any questions, Nadya asks if Leo clashed with anyone before Caeso, which Mother Druislla denies, since he arrived only shortly before our party. When asked by Nadya if Leo arrived alone, Drusilla confirms this.

Nadya joins the others in the bath, updating them on the interrogation. Telling them that she lied about knowing if someone was going into the room, stating that she isn’t sure if Mouser bought the lie. Aurelius voices his concern. Xanthus states that if they ask him, he would admit that he went into the room, Petra interrupts Xanthus saying that they should just claim that they went into the room because they were searching for a quiet room to fuck, saying that they best should lie about why they were in the room. Xanthus says he will keep that in mind, waiting for what will happen. Going back to our rooms before dinner, Xanthus, still under the effects of the spell, stops Aurelius and Caeso asking them if they are okay.

At dinner, Aalea announces that she murdered Talos this afternoon, following his interrogation, he had to go violently and terribly for what he attempted to do. One for stealing from Spiderkiller, an powerful ingredient, wanting to use it to spike the drink of one of the other students in an attempt to rape her. Aalea emphasizes that this is never tolerable. After her speech she softens up again, sitting down and casually chatting to Spiderkiller. Nadya doesn’t touch her food and the group leaves dinner to go to talk in Agrippa’s room. They try to get their stories straight, deciding that it would be best if they are honest about Xanthus and Petra going into Leo’s room. Agrippa asks Nadya and Xanthus about what prompted their making out at the party, to which Xanthus only replies that they are both very attractive. After an awkward moment, Agrippa suggests playing this strange game, ›fuck, marry, kill‹, he heard in a tavern to pass the time until they have to go to their rooms. Agrippa also mentions who Aalea told him to keep an eye out for.

When they head for their rooms, Aurelius decides to read more of the Numicius book. The next chapter goes into Xanthus’ direct line. It talks about Xanthus’ father, Gnaeus, and while reading it Aurelius gets the sense that Livia has very complicated feelings about her father. He always favoured Atlas over any of the daughters. Gnaeus marries Alessandra, on the surface this seems like a great match. Alessandra’s family did hide the fact that they weren’t that well off financially, bringing her inheritance into the marriage. Livia thinks this would have been fine if it wasn’t for one of the biggest secrets of the Numicius family, the fact that they are close to absolute financial ruin.

When walking back to their rooms, Caeso asks Nadya if she is doing okay, since she hasn’t really eaten dinner. She says she isn’t really feeling herself at the moment, to which Caeso asks if he can do anything to help. Nadya thanks him, but says that she isn’t sure he could do much. In her room Nadya starts reading the unpublished history of the red church. Stating it was published 50 years ago, the first chapter discusses the fact that the red church was founded before the fall of the Ashkan empire. It wasn’t so hidden and so underground then, but after the fall of the Ashkan empire things changed, nobody knows what happened or why, or how society shifted, only that it has. Continuing in the quiet mountain, though it is not known who took it there and why. Agrippa goes to bed later than he would.

As they drift off to sleep, strange dreams start to happen. Aurelius floats in darkness again, he recognizes the scene from when the mother first started to speak to him only two days ago. When he turns his head he sees the Mother towering over him, a small smile on her face. She greets him, saying that he doesn’t seem much for conversation at the moment, telling him that he doesn’t have to worry, since she will be gone soon. The Mother tells him that he has encountered powerful magic today and it has left traces on his mind, his subconscious trying to form them into dreams. She tells him that he was close to her world and that she is proud about the amount of composure he held, adding that he doesn’t need to worry, they will make a murderer out of him yet. Starting the dream for him. Aurelius dreams of being drenched in blood, a body lying in a pool of blood, just like Talos did before. Facing him, he can see it’s Cardinal Francisco Duomo, head of the church of Aa and he knows in his dream state that he has killed him. His mother walks towards him, she stops looking at him distrustful and hesitant. When she steps closer, her face changes, now covered in blood, she looks full of affection, changing into Aalea. Telling him that, *»It’s okay, darling. I am here.«* Blood is still pouring from above Aurelius. She cradles his head and plants a kiss on his forehead. Suddenly Aurelius is five years old and the dream fades to darkness.

Caeso dreams of standing under grey clouds, breathing the smell of overturned soil, tasting the coming rain. His father is marking out furrows for planting. He turns to find his sister, who he was just playing with. But when Caeso turns, the scene spins. He is standing in Vaan now, in a very different field on a different day, a very different memory. Taller and broader than he was as a child, but Caeso still stares at fresh furrows in the soil. It was a day of victory for his unit, taking over the land for Itreya. Staring down at the soil, he remembers that they not only stole from the warriors they defeated, but also the village nearby. Caeso hears his name called and when he turns it is a fellow soldier, one he found comfort several times before. He has a grim look on his face, all of the soldiers seem to have that night. He asks Caeso if he wants company in his tent, Caeso agrees. He reaches for his hand and guides him down to the river. His unit is bathing up and down the stream, many of them having found secluded spots, trying to forget the fight in each other's arms. When he turns the soldier is gone, but Aalea stands here, bloodsoaked and rough and just so beautiful. When she looks at Caeso it is with affection and sorrow. She is naked like Caeso, as she approaches. She tells him *»Don’t disappear.«* She reaches for his hands and gentle washes the blood from them. She looks so sad for him and pulls him close and kisses him.

Like Aurelius’ dream Xanthus’ isn’t a memory. The light from the window slowly wakes up Xanthus and as he turns there is a form in the bed next to him. The curve of the cheek is so familiar, he feels like someone punched him in the gut. When Hestia opens her eyes and smiles at him, his old friend, the one he never intended to fall for. There is a ring on her finger, not the one she was given in real life before she was married off. Confused, Xanthus sits up and sees a bridal shawl tossed over the table on Hesita’s side of the room. He looks over to his side and there is a different bridal shawl, one his mother began to embroider when he was born, then the image flickers and the fabrics shift, it’s now a rich purple spool with symbols of sunlight, a marrowborn’s wedding toga. Red footprints catch his eye, leading to the bed and when Xanthus looks at Hestia again he sees Aalea laying there instead. She is covered in blood, the red soaks the sheets. Aalea smiles, *»Morning sweetie.«* He settles in her arms, kissing him, the taste of blood lingering on his tongue. Then she guides Xanthus’ head down between her thighs.

Nadya is thrown into a memory, sitting on a cobbled stone platform in a Liisian garden, birds chirping in the distance. Antonia sits across from her, smiles and tilts her chin, giving her the perfect view of her collarbone, her elegant bone structure. Nadya looks down at the sketchbook in her hands, where an image of Antonia takes shape. Antonia reaches for a drink, but it’s not the wine she drank that afternoon, it’s something darker and more viscous, it’s decorated with flowers she recognizes, belladonna, red dahlia, liisian kiss, bitter blue. All poisonous. Nadya knocks the drink out of her hand, spilling over the stones. As stands up and looks up at the reflection, Antonia does the same, but her reflection is not her own. It’s Aalea, *»It’s alright, darling.«* She cradles Nadya’s face, a gentle kiss on both of her cheeks, like she did the first time she greeted her. Nadya’s dream vision is so clear, when she pulls back she can see herself reflected in Aalea’s dark eyes. Marks of blood on Nadya's face, where she was kissed. When Aalea reaches for the glass of poison, it’s full again. She lifts the glass with a questioning face. Nadya feels an overwhelming sense of trust and safety. She leans down close and intimate and drinks down the bitter communion. When Nadya wakes up she notices some of her jewelry missing.

The party meets at breakfast, the mood is very subdued, both from alcohol and or emotional induced hangovers. Naev comes by the table and requests Petra’s help; she has heard from Tacitus that it was Petra’s idea to release them. A little after Neav, Aalea comes by the table and asks us how we are feeling. Resting a hand on Aurelius’ shoulder. Aurelius comments on the strangeness of the day yesterday. When Aalea asks if everyone has slept okay, nobody was too drunk. Agrippa mentions that he did not drink at all, so he feels well. Caeso says he slept fine, but had a weird dream. Aalea just comments that she finds that interesting and leaves again for the staff table before checking in with Bianca. Agrippa proceeds to ask Caeso about what he meant with the strange dream. Caeso answers that Aalea was in his dream last night, when Agrippa gives him a look, he quickly adds that it was not like that. He says it felt like she was there in some capacity. Aurelius and Nadya add that they had the same experience, after being asked Xanthus states the same. Aurelius explains what happened to the others yesterday, stating that he is sure she cast something on them, so they couldn’t leave. Caeso asks if our dreams were bad. Aurelius states it was a mixture. They agree that there was an intensity to it. Nadya says that she feels like shit, not really looking for a night like that. Aurelius asks her if this was about the dream she had, she responded with a yes.

During the day, Glasspinner and Alba are getting escorted to their interrogations, Caeso decides to sit and watch who gets called in for interrogations. They take Hush after breakfast. After Hush, Osrik and Ashlinn are brought in for questioning. Nadya goes and checks every nameplate of the rooms where the Acolytes are sleeping. After that she goes back to her room to read the book she got from the library. It mentions the hierarchy of the red church (see Nevernight Glossary), it further talks about the process of choosing Shahiids, which is from among Blades who have already been serving. Selected by the Revered Mother and the other teachers and then they are put through tests, but not told what they are being tested for and then the job gets offered to the one who is most qualified. They are able to refuse it and remain a Blade if they want. Back when the book was written, Mother Drusilla was the Shahiid of Pockets. The reverend Mother before her was called Venus.

During their trip to the desert Naev mentions that she raised the camel that went missing, when it was young. It's called Byss, short for Abyss. She mentions that when they are not training acolytes, she is doing a lot of supply runs for the Red Church, delivering messages. Petra sees that beneath the veils around the eyes she seems to be covered in scars. When talking with Petra while retrieving the missing camel in the desert about the violence at the Red Church, there is a bittersweet note to her voice while talking.

Agrippa takes Xanthus and Aurelius for a sparring lesson. Agrippa instructs them both, handing them weapons from the training room. During their homoerotic fight, they start playing dirty, using magic. The fight ends when Xanthus gets pissed and throws a dagger into Aurelius’ chest. Agrippa stops the fight, being visibly frustrated and aggravated by their behaviour. He tells Xanthus off for throwing a dagger. Condemning their unsportsmanship behaviour, saying it is about the principle. Xanthus answers that he doesn’t have those. Agrippa makes them lift weights as a punishment. Tacitus checks in with Xanthus.

Aurelius skips lunch and goes off, starting to angrily read the Numicius book. Their first child was a daughter Naya (?), Livia writes that she will talk about her later, first she will lay out the priorities like their parents saw them. The second child was the most important, Atlas, the beloved son. By the time all the other children were born, Atlas was 14, he was given a special nickname from their father at this coming of age celebration. Verinum, meaning true name. Because Atlas holds the world on his shoulders and he was the whole world to his parents. And because Atlas had always been raised to be the oldest son, he was the whole world to his branch of the Numicius family. At this point Aurelius is very confused, because Livia has mentioned that all the children have been born by that time and she referred to Atlas as being the only son. When Aurelius flicks back to the front of the book, the family genealogy lists Xanthus as a son. He is only two years younger than Atlas. Aurelius remembers that when he saw the family out, there was always only one son. When Aurelius reads further it mentions Naya the oldest daughter, under the tutotage of their mother, the only purpose for her to catch a husband. Yet she had a rebellious streak and was definitely not a virgin when she married nor did she remain faithful after. It mentions that she married pretty well, lifted her up from poverty, at the age of 17. It created a certain expectation for the other sisters. Her husband is a lawyer, he sits at the top of the Stairs of Debate.

Agrippa tells them that Aurelius and Xanthus had an intense fight. After lunch Nadya asks Xanthus if they can talk somewhere more private. They go into Nadya's room. *»I don’t mean to pry, actually I do. What was this whole shadow thing yesterday?«* Xanthus answers by saying *»I thought that maybe you guys have forgotten about that.«* Adding that he can control shadows and he didn’t want them to get murdered. Nadya asks him what else he can do and Xanthus says that he can do a few things with it, but he honestly doesn’t understand it. Nadya asks if he could always do this. Xanthus says he doesn’t know how long it has been, but he always has been pretty sneaky. He tells her that Lord Cassius can do the same thing and that he talked to him a little about it. Nadya asks if it cleared something up for him, giving him any kind of answers. Xanthus shakes his head saying, that, no, none of us know. He adds that he would love to ask him for help, but he is not here anymore. Nadya offers that if Xanthus wants, she can try to find something in the library. Xanthus tells her that he thinks that he should also go and look, but it hasn’t been a priority with everything happening. He proceeds to tell her that he hurt Aurelius with it in a fight, having stabbed Aurelius after he has been a »shit«. Nadya asks for details on what he can do, he answers that he can just make shadows do what he wants. Xanthus then tells Nadya that he is still figuring stuff out and that he feels like he can talk to her, so if he notices something new, he will tell her. This prompts Nadya to promise him not to tell anyone about it.

Aalea pauses next to Caeso after they are done with this round of interrogations. Asking him if he had fun keeping track of everything. Caeso follows her to dinner, keeping quiet, until she speaks to him. She tells him that none of his other friends were there yet. They are scheduled for tomorrow. Caeso asks her about any new theories. She tells him that she has many theories and she will see how they turn out. Aalea tells him not to worry so much, as it is rarely the most obvious suspect and that he can be lucky that she is one of the people in charge sorting this out. Caeso tells her that this makes him feel better. She asks about yesterday and the way they encountered her. Aalea comments on Nadya seemingly being troubled. Caeso tells her about having a weird dream last night, the others who saw her did too, having her present in them. Aalea tries to dodge the question, saying it’s natural for your subconscious to bring something traumatic like that. Aalea asked again if they all dreamed of her. When Caeso confirms this, Aalea just comments on how interesting this is.

All of the Acolytes gather for church in the hall of eulogies after dinner. Mother Drusilla lifts up a bowl of blood painting a stripe on the face of each of the teachers, from the forehead down past the lips. Then she paints one on herself. Then the hands and blades begin to sing. It’s the most blades we have seen since we are here. Ashlinn leans over and whispers to us, some of these blades travel back just for church and some of them have completed some missions. She points one out one of the Blades and says that one is quite famous. There is some kind of magic working in the song, pulling everyone into a more trance like state of focus. Julius reckons that it's some kind of blood magic. When the song stops, Mother Drusilla steps forward, reading a list of everyone that was killed for the church this week. It’s a list of seven names, she reads it slowly. As she reaches one name, Marcus Taurus(?), we can hear a small gasp from Hush. He quickly regains composure, though a smile reains on his lips. Marking some of the blades that did the killing, Aalea gets marked last for Talos. Before bed, Xanthus speedwalks to the library trying to find a book about Darkin. The chronicler explains to Xanthus that there is no system and this is a library of dead books, never published, published and then destroyed, conceptualized in someone’s head for years but never written, so all those books appear here. He finds an old book with legends and takes it with him. Meanwhile Nadya reads a letter she has, gets angry, scrunches it up and kicks a chair. Caeso hears the chair falling. Agrippa finds Seadancer, teases her about Petra and then paces his room. He almost punches the wall next to Aurelius’ room.