the ninth house being called the house of the sewn tongue. the sewn tongue, a ritual quite unlike any other form of necromancy that prevents the subject from speaking on a certain topic. the sewn tongue, which appears to be at least part flesh magic, something very much not typically associated with the ninth, and the only way to subvert it being to remove one’s entire jaw. harrow kissing ianthe to confirm the sewn tongue was still in place. alecto kissing/biting harrow and verbally identifying her as the blood of anastasia. anastasia, who believed she had perfected lyctorhood, only to “fail” and “force” john to kill her cavalier to “save” her when she tried. anastasia, who in all likelihood had to be forcibly prevented from speaking the truth. anastasia, who then founded the ninth house to guard alecto and made some arrangement with her. the ninth house, which at terrible cost ensured that the blood of anastasia lasted those ten thousand years. the ninth house, the symbol of which is a jawless skull
The House of the Fifth always skinned itself over with such airs of civilization, with so many manners and niceties, but they were spirit-talkers, and speakers to the dead. And the dead were savage.
ALT
