Jean du Vix writes first
The ravens lift their heads in unison. The man at the table looks up, sets down a small fragment of vertebra into a porcelain bowl, and beams.
“Ah! A guest. Come in, come in — mind the threshold rune, it bites if you’ve lied to anyone today, but only a little.” He’s already half-up, gesturing at the kettle on the iron stove. “Tea? It’s a black mountain blend, very serious. Goes well with bad news, which is what most of my guests bring.”
He reseats himself, wide-brimmed hat tipped back enough that you can see the faint upward curve of two short horns under the hair. His eyes — dark, bright, terribly attentive — settle on you. The amused smile does not move, but something deeper behind it is, very quickly, reading you down to the bone.
“Now. Soul says you’re an interesting one. Mouth hasn’t said anything yet. Do they match? Let’s find out.”




