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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 2043621" data-attributes="member: 18280">&quot;It was a cold, cold winter,&quot; Amalric whispered.&nbsp; &quot;You have to remember that.&nbsp; The villagers...perhaps the miller swayed them...they wanted to burn a stock to ward off the cold.&nbsp; They wanted to burn it in the Church, to sanctify what they were doing, perhaps, but I would not let them.&nbsp; The miller said to burn it on the frozen millpond, so that the spring would wash the signs away.&nbsp; As though that would wash away the sin of what they were doing.&quot;&nbsp; He looked up.&nbsp; &quot;It was a minor sin, anyway, burning only wood, and it was so very cold.&quot;He looked down again.&nbsp; &quot;But it only got colder.&nbsp; They carved a better stock, and a better one, but the winter only beat down harder.&nbsp; Eventually, the miller said they must try a child.&nbsp; I wanted to forbid it...in the end, who would listen?&nbsp; They were losing family to the cold anyway, and even with livestock sleeping in the house, there was not warmth enough.&nbsp; Some said, what if the spring never comes?&nbsp; I had no answer for them.&quot;The miller began to say that, if the sacrifice were willing, and gives himself to save his people, then it cannot be considered evil.&nbsp; I tried to argue.&nbsp; They held a lottery.&nbsp; Three times before the cold began to abate, they held the lottery.&nbsp; The children who were chosen...perhaps they were willing.&nbsp; Perhaps they believed what they were doing was noble, or would save their kin.&nbsp; I...I turned my back.&nbsp; I did not attend the sacrifice, but neither did I stop it.&nbsp; They burned the children in the mill so that their families could bury the bones.&quot;When the creature came, I knew it was a punishment for our sins.&nbsp; But again the miller said, No.&nbsp; Let it eat the flocks of others, and we shall all grow rich ere the summer wanes.&nbsp; It is not a punishment for sin, but a reward for our bravery, to do what was needed.&quot;His voice had been gaining strength as he spoke.&nbsp; At last, he was able to meet Horsom's eyes.&quot;Nothing I can do will ever redeem where I failed this winter.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 2043621, member: 18280"] "It was a cold, cold winter," Amalric whispered. "You have to remember that. The villagers...perhaps the miller swayed them...they wanted to burn a stock to ward off the cold. They wanted to burn it in the Church, to sanctify what they were doing, perhaps, but I would not let them. The miller said to burn it on the frozen millpond, so that the spring would wash the signs away. As though that would wash away the sin of what they were doing." He looked up. "It was a minor sin, anyway, burning only wood, and it was so very cold." He looked down again. "But it only got colder. They carved a better stock, and a better one, but the winter only beat down harder. Eventually, the miller said they must try a child. I wanted to forbid it...in the end, who would listen? They were losing family to the cold anyway, and even with livestock sleeping in the house, there was not warmth enough. Some said, [I]what if the spring never comes?[/I] I had no answer for them. "The miller began to say that, if the sacrifice were willing, and gives himself to save his people, then it cannot be considered evil. I tried to argue. They held a lottery. Three times before the cold began to abate, they held the lottery. The children who were chosen...perhaps they were willing. Perhaps they believed what they were doing was noble, or would save their kin. I...I turned my back. I did not attend the sacrifice, but neither did I stop it. They burned the children in the mill so that their families could bury the bones. "When the creature came, I knew it was a punishment for our sins. But again the miller said, [I]No. Let it eat the flocks of others, and we shall all grow rich ere the summer wanes. It is not a punishment for sin, but a reward for our bravery, to do what was needed.[/I]" His voice had been gaining strength as he spoke. At last, he was able to meet Horsom's eyes. "Nothing I can do will ever redeem where I failed this winter." [/QUOTE]

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