I was absent when the temple collapsed. There is talk among the others about a Great and Ancient Power delivering the final blow to the weakened structure. I tried to ask Ravenwoman about it, but she only hurled expletives at me at first before turning and stomping rudely away.
The pike is still there. The head that was mounted on it, is gone. No one knows (or is willing to tell me) where the head has gone. The (unworded but heavily implied) sentiment among those I have asked is that the condemned was released from his sentence too soon.
The remains of the basin that held the waters has been found. It is shattered and heat damaged. What remains is porous and crumbles at the touch.
One of the betrayers was found while I was there. He was torn to pieces, but not allowed to be destroyed. I get the feeling if the betrayers want a clean exit, they better hurl themselves into the nearest unattended pyre. (There are so many of those.)
I came across Ravenwoman again while headed to my back 40. I asked her a thing that she did not want to hear. She screeched obscenities and threw a flaming skull in my direction. I caught it easily and chastised her for her disrespect of the bones. She took a step towards me to follow up her insult with injury but I called her out harshly.
“You were here before I was born. You’ll be handed my skull after I die. What the fuck is it to you that I am? Is there a connection between us that you are hiding? You tried to be master to me, tried to be mother, and even tried a sibling approach, for what end? I’ve pulled free of your influence, and now you act the ass every chance you get. Why? What am I to you that you can’t stand the sight of me now?”
We were surrounded by ravens as I challenged her. I noted her appearance had changed slightly. I tucked the burning skull under my arm and meant to take it to my back 40 to deal with it properly, but a wall of ravens prevented me. This is her work. She has to finish it. I nodded in understanding and turned back to her. I walked to her and held out the inflamed skull. She took it silently and placed it back in the pyre she plucked it from.
The ravens parted to allow me to depart. As I did, I notice my appearance as a Boneburner has changed again. I walked to my back 40 expecting to see piles of work waiting for me. Just one set of bones lay jumbled.
There are those that shall burn and purge and do nothing else. Your work here is different now that you have fully fledged.
I’m somewhat surprised, and I’m not surprised. We’ll see what comes as it comes.