Dahlia approaches the last door, feeling it, Xatherin is in the next chamber. She pushes it open and steps in. The first thing she notices are the naked people. People, animals, other beings with little wings, wooden bodies, some with little bodies. They hang upside down from the ceiling, dangling from hooks carved into the roof, and they are all frozen in various display of surprise. The new chamber is huge, disappearing into the far distance. Like the former chamber, it was carved by someone and excrutiating effort has gone into the details.
She strides forward silently, winding around the dangling rows of dead beings, disconcerted by their final expressions. This is how Xatherin has survived for so long in isolation. Dahlia supposes that she eats up her reserve of food and when it fin
