There’s more than one way to end an alliance… We’re thrilled to share an excerpt Foz Meadows’ follow-up to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance‚ All the Hidden Paths—a sultry political and romantic fantasy publishing December 12th with Tor Books. With the plot against them foiled and the city of Qi-Katai in safe hands‚ newlywed and tentative lovers Velasin and Caethari have just begun to test the waters of their relationship. But the wider political ramifications of their marriage are still playing out across two nations‚ and all too soon‚ they’re summoned north to Tithena’s capital city‚ Qi-Xihan‚ to present themselves to its monarch. With Caethari newly invested as his grandmother’s heir and Velasin’s old ghosts gnawing at his heels‚ what little peace they’ve managed to find is swiftly put to the test. Cae’s recent losses have left him racked with grief and guilt‚ while Vel struggles with the disconnect between instincts that have kept him safe in secrecy and what an open life requires of him now. Pursued by unknown assailants and with Qi-Xihan’s court factions jockeying for power‚ Vel and Cae must use all the skills at their disposal to not only survive‚ but thrive. Because there’s more than one way to end an alliance‚ and more than one person who wants to see them fail… and they will resort to murder if needed.     We’d been at Caethari’s holdings in the Avai riverveldt just long enough for me to fall in love with them when the summons came. A courier rode in on a fi ne bay mare and handed the message to Cae in person‚ bowing from the saddle in one breath and departing in the next‚ her job done. A sense of foreboding tickled my neck as my husband broke the elaborate wax seal on the missive and unrolled its fine paper‚ frowning at the contents. I’d been happy enough for long enough—which is to say‚ for nearly three weeks—that I’d grown suspicious of my own felicity‚ and when Cae’s mouth twisted in annoyance‚ some cynical part of me rejoiced in perverse vindication. See? it seemed to say. We knew this couldn’t last. “We’re wanted in Qi-Xihan‚” said Cae. He swallowed‚ glancing at me. “Her Majesty Asa Ivadi Ruqai desires an audience.” Whatever crisis I’d been expecting‚ this wasn’t it. I blinked at him. “What?” “The asa wants to see us‚” Cae repeated. He shot me a look that was equal parts confused and frustrated. “She doesn’t say why; only that we’re to appear at our earliest convenience‚ which is a polite way of saying as soon as is humanly possible‚ and that this is her personal request.” I grimaced‚ thoughts whirling. “Th ere must be trouble with Ralia over our marriage‚” I said. “Either King Markus objects‚ or one of his factions does‚ and we need to give an accounting of it all.” I faltered. “That‚ or—the other thing.” Buy it Now My husband winced and looked away‚ leaving me to silently curse myself. The other thing‚ I’d said‚ as though the deaths of Caethari’s father and sister‚ the former at the latter’s hands‚ was a sordid afterthought. The only reason he wasn’t dressed all in black was in deference to the newness of our marriage: Tithenai custom held that to observe full mourning before a new couple’s second and final marriage-gathering was bad luck. As such‚ Cae wore a dark lin edged with black and had wound black ribbons into his braid‚ but was otherwise dressed normally. My lin‚ too‚ was trimmed with black‚ and as my hair was yet too short for a proper Tithenai braid‚ I wore my matching ribbons bound around my wrists. Cae had tried to say it wasn’t necessary—I’d scarcely known his father‚ while his sister’s last act had been to take me hostage—but I’d ignored him and done it anyway. Honouring his grief seemed the very least I could do‚ under the circumstances. I placed a hesitant hand on Cae’s shoulder‚ relieved when he leaned into the touch. “You needn’t talk around it so‚” he said‚ raising his opposite hand to squeeze my fingers‚ this gentleness in contrast to the bitter scrape of his voice. “Call it what it is: Laecia’s treachery.” “I’ll call it whatever hurts you least.” “There is no least hurt‚ with a thing like this.” And then‚ with a sigh‚ “I’m sorry‚ Vel. I shouldn’t snap. It’s just… I thought we’d have more time here.” “Me‚ too‚” I admitted‚ and took a moment to ache at the thought of leaving. When we’d first set out from Qi-Katai‚ I’d been apprehensive‚ worried that whatever rural charms Avai might offer would prove an insufficient sap to my fractious brain and urban predilections. What would it mean for my marriage if I couldn’t find some means of self-occupation that neither endangered the pair of us nor drove Cae to distraction? The prospect of helping administer his holdings here was a potential lifeline‚ and one I was all too afraid would fray apart in my hands. But the moment we’d ridden down the broad‚ paved drive to the main estate—the same drive in which we presently stood—I’d felt myself bewitched. It was calm in Avai‚ the sort of calm that sinks across your shoulders like a soft‚ cool fur and eases whatever tension you’ve been carrying. The scent of the Eshi River was everywhere—not acrid and foul‚ like so many city rivers come to be‚ marred by human refuse and the leavings of industry‚ but bright and clean. Birdsong cut through the elegant‚ curving branches of trees I’d never seen before‚ while neat fields and orchards in late-autumn hues of brown and russet patchworked the valleys between gentle‚ rolling hills. I’d found nature beautiful before‚ of course—I’m not made of stone—but Avai felt different. Perhaps it was simply that my life‚ since leaving Farathel‚ had been one overwrought commotion after the next‚ such that the pretty quietude of this patch of Tithena was a balm I hadn’t known I’d needed. Perhaps my tastes were maturing as I aged—and moons‚ but this recent span of weeks had certainly aged me! Or perhaps I only felt what I did because of Caethari. For all that our marriage and acquaintance both were scarcely a month old‚ I had come to care for him as I’d cared for few others in my life. In the aftermath of his sister’s betrayal‚ he’d confessed his love for me‚ and though I didn’t yet trust that the depth of my feelings matched his own‚ the knowledge that he didn’t expect direct reciprocation—that he was content for me to be as I was‚ at least for now—meant more than I could say. Avai mattered to him: was that why it mattered to me? I rubbed my beribboned wrists together‚ unsettled by the prospect. “Wait‚” said Cae‚ suddenly. “There’s a second page.” “A second page?” “Or‚ not a page—there’s something stuck‚ here—” He held up the letter and flipped it over‚ blunt nails scrabbling ineffectually at the edges. I watched him struggle for a moment‚ suppressing a smile at the peek of tongue protruding from his mouth‚ then took the paper from him. At first glance‚ it seemed a single‚ ordinary piece of stationery‚ albeit an expensive one; but at the top‚ where the broken wax seal had started to flake‚ a careful eye could just make out the leading edge of a second sheet stuck perfectly to the first. It was a technique I’d seen before‚ though not recently—for a brief time in Farathel‚ it had been all the rage to send secret‚ doubled missives like this—and so I knew the trick to prying it loose. “Markel!” I called across the lawn‚ to where my dearest friend and ostensible servant was lazing contentedly on the grass‚ pretending to take no notice of us. “Can I borrow your letter-knife?” “I’ve got a knife‚” Cae muttered not-quite-sulkily‚ indicating the leather-sheathed blade with its ring handle of polished jade that I’d given him as a marriage gift. “I know‚” I said‚ and kissed his cheek to show I’d meant no slight. “But this calls for delicate work‚ and your blade isn’t thin enough.” “Hmph.” Markel ambled over‚ one brow raised at the pair of us and a crooked grin on his face. He passed me the letter-knife handle-first‚ a flash of recognition in his eyes as he watched me slip it between the two pressed pages. “Haven’t seen this in a while‚” he signed—more slowly than was usual between us‚ partly in deference to the fact that Cae was still learning sign-speech‚ but also because he was using a new‚ syllable-based sign alphabet designed to spell out Tithenai words more easily‚ the better to enable more fluent communication with Cae. It was all Markel’s development‚ something he’d shyly admitted to having worked on for a while‚ but which he’d altered to work with Tithenai more than Ralian‚ and in the fortnight since he’d introduced it to us‚ it had done wonders to improve Cae’s confidence with signing. I nodded absently‚ refocussing on the paper. The hidden sheet was thinner than I’d first assumed‚ like the finest rice paper‚ the edges sealed so neatly with adhesive that it was hard work not to tear it. Still‚ I managed in the end‚ and with a little hah! of triumph‚ I peeled away the second page and handed it to Cae. He held it up to the sky‚ letting the wintry light illuminate the contents. Unlike the primary letter‚ this one was neither written in the neat‚ precise hand of a professional scribe nor inked in the customary black or blue. Instead‚ the writing was small and curlicue‚ difficult to make out‚ and written with an ink (if the term applied) that bleached instead of stained. The message was pale and indistinct even with the aid of direct sunlight: held normally‚ you could scarcely see it at all. “It’s in the asa’s own hand‚” Cae said‚ startled. “She writes‚ ‘I bid you travel discreetly. Observe the state of Tithena and report your findings to me.’” “She wants us to spy for her?” I exclaimed. “You needn’t sound quite so delighted‚” Cae said dryly‚ “but yes.” Carefully‚ he rerolled both pieces of paper. “Asa Ivadi is well-known to be fond of issuing private games and challenges to her subjects‚ like sending a hidden message to some noble or minister asking for their private observations. If they don’t find it‚ she’ll know them to be incurious and unobservant; if they do‚ their compliance tells her what they think is valuable information and how good they are—or not—at acquiring it.” “I like her already.” Cae snorted. “You would‚” he said. “This is much more your thing than mine.” That stung‚ though I was sure he hadn’t meant it to. “We can always pretend we didn’t find it‚ if you prefer.” “What? Of course not!” Cae looked at me‚ a worried furrow between his brows. I’d aimed to keep both my tone and expression neutral‚ but I mustn’t have succeeded; that‚ or he was getting eerily good at reading me‚ for he promptly leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth‚ so lightly that I shivered. “I’m sorry‚ Vel. That wasn’t meant as a dig.” “I know‚” I said‚ flustered. I wasn’t used to being so sweetly perceived‚ and it threw me off-balance. “It’s me who ought to apologise‚ spoiling your good humour—” “You haven’t spoiled anything‚ saints!” “I only meant—” “I know what you meant‚ I just—” Markel cut us off with a throaty noise of amusement‚ grinning from ear to ear. I flushed and ducked my head‚ smiling into the collar of my mourning lin. It was still a new and wonderful thing‚ to be bedding a man approved of by my oldest friend; almost as new and wonderful as the fact that‚ in Tithena‚ we could openly claim each other. In Ralia‚ the lifelong necessity of keeping my inclinations secret had sickened me like a slow cancer; here‚ we were two men married‚ and while ours had been a political match forged in unpleasant circumstances‚ I’d sooner have lopped off a hand than repudiated Cae. “You’re very married today‚” signed Markel. Before I could reply to that‚ he nodded his stubbled head to indicate the asa’s letters. “Does this mean we’re headed to Qi-Xihan?” “It does‚” I said‚ “and immediately. Though if you’d rather stay here or return to Qi-Katai‚ I’d understand.” Markel favoured me with a withering look. “I’ll go and see about packing‚” he signed‚ and strode off towards the main house with a sarcastic wave over his shoulder. “Well‚” said Cae‚ after a moment. “That would seem to be settled‚ wouldn’t it?” “Quite decisively‚ yes.” He laughed and stepped closer‚ sliding an arm around my waist. “Look on the bright side. I’ll get to show you the capital.” He leaned in‚ kissing up my throat to my ear. “And the palace accommodations are very luxurious.” I made an involuntary sound and turned to face him‚ looping my arms around his neck with the closest approximation to coy ease I was capable of mustering. “Are they now‚” I said‚ and for an answer he kissed me properly‚ both hands on my hips as he drew us together. I melted into it‚ heart hammering with a mixture of new anticipation and old fear: I wasn’t yet used to being intimate in public without risk of either discovery or censure‚ and so it yet felt illicitly thrilling to kiss my husband outdoors. Though Cae was‚ as I’d quickly learned‚ a consummate kisser; even in private‚ he left me dizzied and wanting. All too soon‚ he broke away again‚ raising a hand to smooth his thumb across my cheek. I flushed as he brushed the stubble—I’d been lax with my grooming the past few days‚ not bothering to shave—and was on the brink of apology when he murmured‚ “It suits you‚ you know.” “What does?” “This.” He repeated the gesture‚ rubbing back and forth across the unshaven grain. “It makes you look rakish.” I scoffed to hide how flustered I was. “You’re the rakish one‚ with your fine salt locks.” I stroked the new silver at his temple‚ smiling around the lump in my throat that rose whenever I thought on how he’d acquired it. “Especially with your ribbons‚ the effect is quite piratical.” “Piratical?” “Dashing‚ then.” “I can work with dashing‚” he said‚ and kissed me again—a light press of lips‚ but I deepened it greedily‚ pulling him close once more. We had talked‚ my new husband and I‚ albeit somewhat awkwardly‚ about our mutual expectations around bedplay. Knowing his feelings to be deeper than my own‚ Cae had made it clear that he didn’t want to pressure me; that he was‚ in fact‚ actively afraid of doing so. For this reason‚ he’d said‚ I should be the one to instigate things‚ at least for now‚ and in the moment‚ I’d been so overwhelmed by the consideration that I’d proceeded to do so eagerly. But volition is a tricky thing‚ and in the weeks since‚ my contrarian nature had reared its head: having struggled my whole romantic life in Ralia to play at seeming disaffected‚ to show less than I felt‚ now that I had express permission to do as I wished‚ I found myself holding back. What if Cae became bored with me? What if my need and greediness lost me his regard? Or what if‚ my insecurities whispered‚ he’s already tiring of you‚ and this is his way of slowing things down? I shoved the last thought aside as unworthy paranoia. Cae had been nothing but honest with me: it was I who struggled to navigate my desires. I knew how to want in secret‚ but wanting openly was something else altogether. Though I longed to lead Cae back inside and take him to bed‚ I made myself break the kiss instead. Tonight‚ I silently promised us both‚ working to marshal my scattered thoughts. The courier’s arrival had knocked me off-balance‚ and it was only belatedly that I recalled why we’d come outdoors in the first place. “What‚” I said‚ then stopped‚ flashing Cae a smile as I caught my breath. “What did you want to show me?” “Show you?” he echoed‚ sounding as dazed as I felt. “Before the courier came‚” I said. “You wanted to show me something.” “Oh!” Cae laughed‚ a little sheepishly. “I’d almost forgotten.” He started walking‚ leading me across the lawn at a leisurely pace. By Ralian standards‚ the lawn was a mess: not manicured in the slightest‚ but dotted everywhere with wildflowers‚ patches of clover and other plants I’d been taught to view as weeds. There was a similar lawn in the Aida back in Qi-Katai‚ though not so diverse in its floral offerings‚ and I’d initially wondered at its apparently unkempt state. It was only after we’d come to Avai that I tentatively brought the matter up with Cae‚ who laughed and told me that the plain grass lawns favoured by Ralian nobles were seen as useless in Tithena. “What’s the point?” he’d asked. “The wild plants feed the bees and birds‚ the rabbits and deer‚ and do the grass no harm; indeed‚ it takes more effort to water and hold the soil together without them. Blank lawns are a great big show of nothing.” I’d had no answer to that‚ though it went against everything I’d ever been taught about the aesthetics of horticulture. Two days later‚ Cae made me a daisy-crown from that very lawn and kissed me on the cheek‚ and whatever objections I might’ve had melted away like frost in sunlight. Now‚ however‚ I realised we were taking a path away from the lawn and towards the stables. My stomach gave a familiar‚ grieving twist: though small against her other crimes‚ Laecia’s murder of my beloved horse‚ Quip‚ still pained me. I worked hard not to show it—what was a horse‚ against Cae’s loss of father and sister?—but I’d raised Quip from a foal‚ and images of his bloody end still found me in my dreams‚ along with the deaths of Killic‚ Laecia‚ Ren Adan‚ Tar Katvi and the former Tieren Halithar. “I’ll take no offence if it’s not to your liking‚” Cae said suddenly‚ a mere ten paces from the stable door. He swallowed before continuing‚ and I was startled to realise that he was nervous. “But I thought—I hoped that it might suit you.” Inside‚ the scent and sound of horses was the most poignant sort of sense memory. I’d always loved riding‚ and was so preoccupied with my own feelings that‚ when Cae finally halted before an airy‚ spacious stall‚ it took me several astonished seconds to realise what was happening. The stall was occupied by a fine-boned filly the colour of quicksilver‚ neat ears pricked with interest. She moved towards us‚ showing off the depth of her chest and her strong‚ lean legs; the proud way she held herself. Though her powerful quarters and tall build spoke to the finest courser bloodlines‚ the delicacy of her head and the high carriage of her tail suggested more than a drop of Nivonai dunerunner blood. Her mane and tail were white waterfalls shot with silver‚ while her pale grey coat showed bluish dapples where it caught the light. She was utterly exquisite‚ and as I stared at her‚ she leaned her head over the railing and bumped her velvet nose against my shirt‚ whuffling curiously. “Cae?” I asked shakily‚ one hand rising of its own accord to stroke the filly’s cheek. “What is this?” Softly‚ Cae replied‚ “She’s yours‚ if you want her.” I stared at him‚ mouth dry. I’ve no idea what my face was doing‚ but whatever it was made Cae look aside‚ rubbing awkwardly at his arm. “I know she can’t replace Quip‚ not truly‚ and I’m sure you’ll want to make your own choice at some point‚ but until then‚ I just thought… you need a horse. She’s trained to saddle‚ but newly enough to learn your preferences‚ and—” Whatever he’d been about to say was lost as I closed the distance between us and kissed him fiercely‚ a rushing in my ears as he reciprocated. When we finally broke apart‚ my heart was pounding. “She’s perfect‚” I rasped‚ chest tight as I met his gaze. My throat was full of words that refused to fall into order. Beyond what the filly must have cost—and moons‚ but that dunerunner blood must’ve made her costly!—the thoughtfulness of the gesture near undid me. In Ralia‚ it was always risky for men like myself to gift their lovers anything or to be so gifted in turn; the risk of discovery—or worse‚ of having such an item of sentiment used against you—was too high. But even when it came to my family‚ I was unaccustomed to receiving much in the way of gifts on occasions that usually merited them‚ let alone unprompted. I was not only a third son‚ but one whose relationships with my elder brothers had always been somewhat fractious and whose father had little love for festivities. The only other people to have ever put so much thought into presents for me were Markel and my long-dead mother‚ and even Markel‚ in keeping with the taboo nature of our friendship—servants and noblemen were not meant to interact as we did‚ let alone care for one another—tended to stick to small and subtle things. The filly‚ though. For all that he was grieving the loss of so much more than a horse‚ Cae had not only noticed my feelings‚ but held them as significant; had gone out of his way to procure this most exquisite‚ beautiful remedy‚ and yet had done so without any expectation that I’d thank him for it. “She’s perfect‚” I said again‚ and hoped he heard what I didn’t say: You are perfect‚ too. “I don’t—I hardly know what to say.” A child’s eagerness rose in me‚ as when I’d been presented with my very first pony. “May I saddle her‚ take her out for a turn?” “You don’t need my permission‚ Vel‚” said Cae‚ but he was smiling at last‚ soft and well-pleased. “She’s all yours.” Alight with anticipation‚ I hurried to the tack room and fetched saddle‚ blanket and bridle. The filly gave a low whicker as I hung the saddle over the edge of her stall‚ stepping back neatly as I let myself in. She turned her head side-on‚ looking at me with one large‚ round eye‚ then shook out her mane and snorted‚ as though‚ in her equine way‚ she found me amusing. “Does she have a name?” I asked‚ settling the blanket across her withers. “Not yet‚” said Cae‚ who was leaned back against a support beam with his arms crossed‚ watching me. “I thought you’d want to give her one yourself‚ assuming you liked her.” “I do. Very much.” I swallowed around a sudden lump in my throat‚ hands resting on the saddle. A half-dozen potential names flashed through my mind‚ but one shone out above all others‚ perfect and irreproachable. “Gift‚” I said‚ fixing my gaze on the polished saddle leather. “That’s what I’ll call her.” “It suits‚” Cae said‚ and there was something so tender in the way he spoke that I didn’t dare look at him. I focussed on saddling Gift instead‚ cheeks flushed as I checked and double-checked the girth—like Quip‚ she puffed out her chest at the first cinching‚ trying to trick me into leaving it loose—before turning to the bridle. I’d always favoured gentle bits‚ and was glad of that now as I coaxed the metal into her soft mouth. She whuffled slightly‚ tossing her head before consenting to lower it‚ neck arched as I settled the browband in place‚ then rolling the bit against her teeth as I secured the throatlatch. As I led her out of the stall‚ Cae smiled at me and fell into step beside us. “Am I permitted to watch you ride‚” he teased‚ “or would you two prefer to be alone?” For an answer‚ I thwacked him across the arm with the reins. “You can stay if you behave‚” I said‚ both pleased and embarrassed. Cae only laughed. “Whatever my husband commands.” As we headed outside‚ the crisp‚ cool air and pale autumn light made Gift’s coat gleam like polished glass. She snorted again‚ bumping her head against me as if she‚ too‚ were eager to ride‚ and as I swung up into the saddle‚ I let out a burst of laughter. Gift danced beneath me‚ responsive as a silk ribbon caught in a breeze‚ and when I urged her forwards‚ she obeyed with a will. The next hour passed in a blur of joy as Gift and I learned each other. She had her quirks‚ like pulling against the rein if called to turn at a canter‚ but nothing that time and patient training couldn’t mend‚ and such minor defects were far outweighed by her graces. She was agile‚ clever and breathtakingly fast‚ her transitions as clean as her gait was smooth. Cae watched us with a pleasure to which he was wholly entitled‚ but all my attention was fixed on Gift. She was not Quip—would never be Quip—but that wasn’t the point: she was herself‚ something wholly new and wonderful‚ and my heart sang with it. I was just letting her cool down through a trot when‚ from the corner of my eye‚ I spied Markel waving from the other end of the lawn. Seeing he had my attention‚ he gestured over his shoulder. Surprised‚ I looked past him and recognised Ru Telitha‚ dismounting as she gave her horse’s reins to a waiting servant. She was dressed for travel in a practical lin‚ undershirt and nara‚ her curly hair tied back in a Tithenai braid. “Oh‚” said Cae‚ following my gaze. He tensed all over‚ swallowing hard. “That’s unexpected.” I winced‚ my pulse ticking up in sympathy. In addition to being a friendly fellow scholar of languages and Markel’s current paramour‚ Telitha was also the trusted right hand of Yasa Kithadi‚ Cae’s grandmother. Her presence here was unlikely to be a purely social visit‚ and as I came down from my giddy high‚ I recalled the importance of Asa Ivadi’s missive. “Very‚” I said‚ dismounting Gift. Handing her off to a groom—I’d have to forgo the pleasure of brushing her down today—I hurried to Cae’s side and‚ though still tentative about such displays in public‚ laced our fingers together. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious‚” I murmured‚ though I was sure of no such thing. “But if it is‚ we’ll handle it.” Cae managed a watery smile before squaring his shoulders‚ face smoothing into what I’d come to think of as his soldier’s mask: a sort of studied calm‚ more stern than blank‚ which gave away nothing of his thoughts. And yet‚ to my surprise‚ he didn’t let go of my hand‚ but squeezed it marginally tighter‚ staying close as we walked to meet Telitha. Markel fell into silent step beside us‚ his own happy expression dimming somewhat as he registered Cae’s stoicism. He blinked‚ confused for all of a moment‚ then let out a breath of understanding‚ mouth twisted in a way that said he was annoyed at himself for missing the nonromantic significance of who had come‚ and why. “Greetings!” said Telitha‚ executing a scholar’s bow as we reached her. She winked at Markel from behind her black lacquer-framed glasses‚ but sobered as she faced Caethari. “Tiern‚ rest easy. I come bearing no grim news.” Cae’s grip on me went briefly lax before tightening again. “And yet‚ I suspect‚ you are not come for purely personal reasons.” “Alas‚ no.” Her pretty smile was apologetic. “Has the courier reached you yet? They sought you first in Qi-Katai‚ but of course you weren’t there.” “They’ve come and gone a few hours back‚” I said‚ when Cae failed to answer. “Asa Ivadi has summoned us to Qi-Xihan.” Telitha sighed. “The yasa guessed as much. It’s why she sent me. She wanted to give you this‚ to take with you.” Reaching into a satchel slung across her body‚ she withdrew what looked like a jewellery box‚ sized for an ornate necklace. It was made of aging white leather stamped with curling gold patterns‚ and Cae flinched at the sight of it. “No‚” he said‚ voice suddenly hoarse. “It’s too soon. I don’t want it.” The ru’s expression was sad‚ but she didn’t withdraw the box‚ and after a fraught‚ silent span of seconds‚ Cae dropped my hand and took it from her‚ fingers shaking as he flicked it open. Inside was a circular metal disc bearing an unfamiliar symbol picked out in gold and enamel‚ its circumference engraved with words too small for me to read. There was also a small loop set at the top‚ as though it was meant to be worn on a chain or pin‚ but if such a matching piece had ever existed‚ it was missing now. “What is it?” I asked. Cae shut the box again‚ head bowed. “It’s the seal of my grandmother’s yaserate‚” he said‚ voice numb. “Bearing it officially makes me her heir.”   Excerpted from All the Hidden Paths‚ copyright © 2023 by Foz Meadows.

James Cameron directed the sci-fi sea adventure‚ The Abyss way back in 1989‚ when the Na’vi were just a mere twinkle in his eye. It’s been decades‚ of course‚ since the movie graced the big screen. Luckily for us‚ however‚ we’ll get to see a 4K remastered version of the film in theaters for just one day in December. 20th Century Studios is releasing the updated version‚ snazzily titled The Abyss: Special Edition‚ that will play in theaters across the United States on December 6‚ 2023. Here’s a synopsis of the movie‚ if you need a refresher: In this underwater sci-fi adventure written and directed by James Cameron‚ a nuclear sub mysteriously sinks and a private oil rig crew‚ led by foreman Bud Brigman (Ed Harris)‚ is recruited to join a team of Navy SEALs on a search and rescue effort. The group soon finds themselves on a spectacular life-and-death odyssey 25‚000 feet below the ocean’s surface‚ where they find a mysterious force that could either change the world—or destroy it. We also got a trailer for the remastered version‚ which gives us a glimpse of the 4K rendered imagery of what Ed Harris‚ Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio‚ and Michael Biehn find at the bottom of the sea. It looks pretty amazing‚ to be honest‚ and I might snag a ticket myself. If you’re also interested in buying a ticket for its one-day showing on December 6‚ 2023‚ you can do so here.

Americans have experienced appliance inflation over the past few years‚ and it could be about to get worse as the Biden administration continues its onslaught of appliance regulations. While blaming Washington bureaucrats is always a reasonable response‚ in this case‚ any problems that they are causing is a result of them exercising the authority granted to them by legislation passed at the height of the 1970’s energy crisis—the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act.  The act gives the Department of Energy authority to regulate nearly everything in a household that uses energy. While it doesn’t require the Department of Energy to continuously impose ever stricter standards‚ the reality is this is precisely what it does. Worse‚ this trend has worsened in recent years as the Biden administration freely uses the act to advance its extreme agenda with ever stricter government standards‚ using climate change as a primary justification.  While the Energy Policy and Conservation Act does grant the secretary of energy broad authority‚ current law also requires that certain factors‚ like the effect on cost and competition‚ the amount of energy saved‚ and the need for energy conservation in general be taken into account. Unfortunately‚ Washington bureaucrats not only routinely ignore these requirements in any meaningful way but choose instead to focus on extraneous alleged benefits like climate change.      This could be expected‚ perhaps‚ because the underlying justification for the efficiency regime established by the act has largely dissipated over time. The act was born out of a time of perceived energy scarcity. But today‚ America has hundreds of years of known energy reserves‚ and new technology is allowing for new discoveries and more efficient use of existing reserves all the time.  In justifying the policies that act ultimately set in place‚ President Gerald Ford laid out three broad policy objectives. These included reducing oil imports‚ ending American vulnerability to economic disruption by foreign suppliers‚ and developing energy technology and resources to supply a significant share of the free world’s energy needs. In each case‚ America has achieved Ford’s objectives. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act Has Lost Relevancy In 1975‚ net imports of crude oil were close to 6 million barrels per day. By 2020‚ the United States had become a net exporter. Geopolitical shocks and cartels‚ specifically the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries‚ or OPEC‚ which produces about 40% of the world’s crude oil‚ can still have a near-term impact on American energy prices. However‚ due to the large amount of energy on global markets‚ energy disruptions do not present the sort of systemic threat that policymakers feared in the 1970’s. The extent to which the United States economy remains vulnerable is purely a function of energy restriction policies—like Biden’s recent decision to ban energy development in parts of Alaska—and have nothing to do with energy efficiency. Further‚ American technologies like fracking‚ the nation’s vast coal resources‚ and commercial nuclear reactors not only can keep America energy independent but also grow its role as a global supplier of energy. Further‚ appliances of all sorts are becoming more efficient because that is what people want. While the consuming public considers many attributes of the purchases they make‚ including capability and upfront cost‚ efficiency is clearly something Americans value. The government does not need to compel efficiency; the market demands it. America Is in an Era of Energy Abundance‚ Not Scarcity America has ample energy reserves. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency‚ in 2020‚ the United States held over 373 billion barrels of technically recoverable crude oil reserves‚ which would provide the U.S. with over 50 years of supply. The same is true for natural gas. The agency estimated in 2020 that the U.S. held 2‚925.8 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas. At current consumption levels‚ that equates to nearly 100 years of supply. Further‚ new discoveries are always occurring that would expand this supply over time‚ which is demonstrated by the growing availability of unconventional sources like oil shale. According to Energy Information Agency‚ the U.S. currently holds 195.5 billion barrels of crude oil and 1‚712.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in unconventional reserves. According to the Institute for Energy Research‚ conventional and unconventional reserves combine to provide nearly 300 years of energy supply at current consumption levels. These energy resources do not even account for uranium deposits‚ which are widely spread throughout the U.S.‚ nor for advancements in other energy generating technologies.  Any regulatory regime promulgated out of fears regarding energy scarcity simply can no longer be justified. Compelled Efficiency Standards Reduce Competition Energy efficiency regulations do not simply alter standards; they can effectively remove products and technology from the marketplace and reduce competition. This is antithetical to Congress’ wishes as evidenced by Energy Policy and Conservation Act‚ which makes clear that maintaining a competitive market for the covered products is an essential element of the cost-benefit calculation. Yet ultimately‚ most rules have a tremendous effect on the market. Whether it’s gasoline engines‚ light bulbs‚ furnaces‚ or showerheads‚ every American will ultimately experience less choice in terms of price‚ availability‚ and capability. In some cases‚ such as with incandescent light bulbs and some refrigerants‚ this is already the case. What DOE does not appreciate is the positive benefit that technological competition and product variation has on long-term market health‚ something even the White House has acknowledged. According to a White House memo published on July 9‚ 2021‚ “Healthy market competition is fundamental to a well-functioning U.S. economy.” It goes on to point out that insufficient competition will lead to higher prices and lower quality. By removing entire classes of technology and product lines from the market‚ efficiency standards limit incentives to lower prices‚ or even to increase efficiency further‚ because the regulation will have captured a substantial portion of the market for the preferred technology. Further‚ the efficiency standards eliminate opportunities for firms to specialize in specific offerings to gain market share. While some firms may retool to compete‚ it is unlikely that the market will support the same number of firms when they all must adhere to strict regulatory standards. This will almost necessarily lead to fewer firms offering fewer choices.   Fewer firms and less technological competition will be bad for consumers and is antithetical to Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Having a lower-priced option that may be less efficient competing against a more efficient higher-priced option will engender competition to develop technologies that move prices lower and efficiency higher overall. By eliminating half of the equation‚ these compelled standards eliminate an essential force to move technology forward.  Congress‚ right or wrong‚ sought to improve consumer product efficiency when it passed the act‚ but it was not seeking to empower the DOE to‚ in effect‚ ban products. Empower Americans‚ Not Washington None of this is to argue that energy efficiency does not have value. It obviously does. However‚ that value is best determined by American consumers and businesses calculating the value of long-term savings against the near-term costs.  The flexibility to assess economic tradeoffs is even more important to low-income Americans. According to the United States Office of Management and Budget‚ “some research indicates that energy efficiency regulations adversely affect lower-income consumers more than those who earn a higher income.” Scholarly research shows further that energy efficiency regulation hits lower-income Americans harder than energy taxes‚ which are recognized as being generally regressive.  Indeed‚ marketplace choice provides the precise sort of flexibility that American consumers depend on to manage home economic challenges.  The DOE often attempts to justify increased near-term costs with alleged savings. Unfortunately‚ these savings are generally averages for an entire market and often do not account for variability for costs like installation fees and retrofits. The fact is that some families will necessarily incur much greater costs than others‚ and DOE rarely reflects this reality. This is a critical point when assessing how a proposed standard will affect individual Americans—especially those facing economic challenges. Each individual American is perfectly capable of weighing for himself the value of additional efficiency against the additional costs associated with most compelled efficiency upgrades. Indeed‚ Americans are making those decisions‚ and many are opting for greater efficiency‚ which makes imposing these costs on everyone even less rational and justified.  Conclusion Given America’s energy abundance‚ the value of efficiency to consumers‚ and the importance of consumer choice‚ the president‚ be it President Joe Biden or a future president‚ should direct the secretary of energy to cease all efficiency-related actions pending a review and certification that those actions are consistent with the word and spirit of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Simultaneously‚ Congress should begin work to significantly curtail‚ if not completely repeal‚ the act’s energy efficiency provisions.  The conditions that gave rise to the act in 1975 are clearly no longer in place. Further‚ like most regulations‚ federal bureaucrats have taken the authorities granted them by Congress to expand their power far beyond what anyone intended. The time has come for policymakers to stop complaining about ridiculous efficiency regulations and finally do something about it.  This piece was originally published by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Federal Energy Efficiency Requirements Are Outdated and Should Be Repealed appeared first on The Daily Signal.

DES MOINES‚ IOWA—National standards‚ including requiring an ID to vote and making Election Day a national holiday‚ are needed to ensure free and fair elections‚ says Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.  While states typically run elections‚ the federal government has set minimum standards under the Help America Vote Act of 2001‚ and prior to that‚ the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965‚ to ensure election integrity.  “The federal government should set minimal standards. You have historical precedents for that‚ dating back 20 years. The federal government can set minimal standards‚” Ramaswamy told The Daily Signal Friday after participating in the Thanksgiving Family Forum‚ an event hosting three Republican presidential contenders and staged by the Iowa-based Family Leader. The Daily Signal was the media sponsor.  The other GOP presidential contenders at the forum were Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Former President Donald Trump did not accept an invitation to joint the forum.  “Making an election a national holiday is important‚ single-day voting on Election Day as a national holiday‚ with paper ballots and government-issued ID to match the voter file—that’s the standards I want to be done in national elections‚” Ramaswamy said.  Ramaswamy‚ who founded the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences‚ also staked out positions on abortion‚ Big Tech and border security.  Although voters in his home state of Ohio approved a state constitutional amendment for abortion without restrictions through the ninth month of pregnancy‚ he said that’s no reason for pro-lifers to back down.  He said if pro-life advocates had offered an alternative amendment‚ Ohio voters would have “flocked to it.” “We need to offer an alternative of our own. I think that’s part of what was missing‚” Ramaswamy said. “If there was a different amendment that was on the table in my home state of Ohio‚ people would have gone for it‚ flocked for it. The reality is that that didn’t exist. That’s why we lost.” He added that should be seen as lessons learned for the movement. “I don’t think the right answer is to compromise on our principles‚” he said. “So‚ I think‚ stand for principles‚ but in a way that unites the country.”  During the forum‚ Ramaswamy‚ Haley and DeSantis all expressed their strong support for protecting life.  On the illegal immigration border crisis‚ Ramaswamy said the federal government should take a more aggressive approach.  “Use our military to secure the border‚” Ramaswamy said. “Use aquatic barriers on the southern border. End federal funding for sanctuary cities and end any funding or foreign aid to Central American countries until they’ve dealt with their end of the problem. End birthright citizenship for illegal migrants‚ for whom the Constitution was never intended to apply.” Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that refuse‚ as a matter of public policy‚ to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.  Birthright citizenship occurs when illegal immigrants enter the United States and have children‚ who automatically become citizens under current law by virtue of being born in the country. The Supreme Court determined in an 1898 case that the 14th Amendment applied to anyone born on U.S. soil even though the language of the amendment doesn’t specify this. Ramaswamy says the way to hold Big Tech companies accountable for censorship is to amend existing federal law‚ Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. which protects social media platforms from being held liable for the content users posts. “My answer is‚ Section 230 should be an opt-in statute‚” he said.  Social media platforms have favored some political and social content over others‚ acting as a publisher. Companies that opt in to the liability protections should be prohibited from censoring content‚ he said.  “If you opt in to it‚ then you are bound by the same constraints as the government itself‚ including the First Amendment‚”  If not‚ there is the free market. You’re free‚ and you don’t get special liability protection. If you want special liability protection‚ you are bound by the same standards as the government. That’s the First Amendment.”  Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post For Election Integrity‚ Ramaswamy Urges Federal Standards appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Census Bureau is asking Congress for $10 million to figure out how best to promote the fiction that sex is assigned at birth‚ rather than the scientific fact that it is present at conception. It is part of a new set of questions on sexual orientation and gender identity that the bureau wants to ask residents‚ even as young as 15. This expansion beyond race and ethnicity represents a new foray into sexual identity—one more step in the bureau’s decades-long degeneration into an agency completely captured by the identity-mongering industry‚ and which produces the supposed “victim” categories that the industry requires. The self-feeding loop works like this: The bureau creates categories out of whole cloth‚ hiving off segments of our population that had been until now not collectivized‚ such as Hispanics or Asian Americans‚ which it did in 1980‚ and then produces “data” on this new segment‚ both officializing them and creating the apparent need for government action to protect them. Indeed‚ the bureau informed Congress that the question or questions would be contained in the American Community Survey‚ which “generates data that help determine how more than $675 billion in federal and state funds are distributed each year.” The survey goes out to about 300‚000 residents every year and is the “premier source of social‚ demographic‚ economic‚ and housing information for the nation‚ states‚ counties‚ cities‚ and towns‚” according to the agency. The testing that the bureau asks that Congress appropriate $10 million to pay for would be all about creating buy-in among the public about the existence of the birth-assignment myth—“this initiative supports cognitive testing to better construct question wording on [sexual orientation-gender identity] topics‚” says the Census Bureau—but also about their marginalized status. There is an “emerging need of our nation to improve the measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) population‚” the bureau claims. “Improving how we collect data about sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations is a critical step in producing accurate data.” This is hogwash. There is an emerging need to validate sexual orientation and gender identities only for those interested in fanning this particular social contagion. But the Census Bureau doesn’t want to stop there. It apparently wants to additionally transform the questions on race. Its request said there would be a “potential for new questions relating to sexual orientation‚ gender identity‚ and intersexuality and/or potential modifications to the race and ethnicity questions.” The bureau is clearly going back for a second bite at the apple. It tried in 2017 to create a quasi-racial category for Hispanics—who are now only an ethnicity‚ as Hispanics‚ indeed‚ come in many races—and add one for Americans with ancestries in the Middle East and North Africa. A handful of us alerted the Trump administration back then‚ and those “innovations” never came about. This year’s idea comes wrapped in the fiscal 2023 budget request to Congress and has already been slammed by two senators. Sens. Marco Rubio‚ R-Fla.‚ and J.D. Vance‚ R-Ohio‚ sent Census Bureau Director Robert Santos a letter that did not mince words. “Biology determines gender‚ not subjective belief‚ and the bureau should not jeopardize the legitimacy of crucial statistical information by endorsing unscientific and untrue concepts like gender identity‚” the two senators wrote. “It’s important to recognize that the notion of ‘gender identity’ is unscientific‚ subjective‚ and political. Those who promote the concept themselves admit that gender identity is fluid and may be changed by an individual on a whim. … How an individual chooses to express themselves is a matter of personality‚ not ‘gender identity.’” “Questioning minors about their ‘gender identity‚’” they added‚ “risks misleading them that the concept is valid and backed by the U.S. government—which it emphatically is not.” The senators sensibly note that we could gather data on the aforementioned social contagion of gender theory. There might be a need to get data “about the dramatic and troubling rise in gender dysphoria‚” they write. But there are ways to get information on the epidemic without validating the concepts. The Left is constantly wrapping itself in the mantle of being the party of science‚ but nothing gives the lie to such a claim more than gender theory. Even the National Institutes of Health‚ never one to look askance at wokeness‚ prizes science over wokeness on this matter‚ and the Cleveland Clinic agrees: Sex is determined soon after the sperm fertilizes the egg. “Out of the 46 chromosomes that make up a baby’s genetic material‚ only 2—1 from the sperm and 1 from the egg—determine the baby’s sex‚” says the NIH. Bonus point: Notice that the NIH calls the zygote‚ the fertilized egg‚ a “baby.” It is unclear if the bureau uses “gender” as a synonym for biological sex or as the natural expectations that normal men and women without an agenda attach to biological sex‚ since the Left uses both meanings interchangeably. But even if it were only the latter‚ how individuals choose to meet those exp ectations is simply a matter of personality‚ as the senators say‚ not an identity out of which to carvean official identity with rights‚ set-asides‚ etc. The only quibble with the senators’ letter is where it says that‚ if it were to proceed‚ the Census Bureau would “damage its credibility as an authoritative statistical body. … For generations‚ the American people have looked to the U.S. Census as an unbiased‚ authoritative source describing the objective reality of life in America.” For those who follow these issues‚ that hasn’t been the case for several decades. A new administration will have to clean house in the bureau at least as much as in other agencies. A good starting point is to rid the surveys of faux racial and ethnic categories and not add new ones‚ especially those that include sex. Instead‚ let’s ask things with a direct impact on success and failure‚ such as family formation. Originally published at WashingtonExaminer.com Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Even Census Bureau Is Pushing Radical Gender Ideology appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. On Monday‚ Senators Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham took significant steps in their ongoing campaign against online child sexual exploitation by issuing subpoenas to the CEOs of X‚ Snap‚ and Discord. The aim of these subpoenas is to bring these technology leaders before a hearing to discuss this issue. Their decision follows multiple refusals by the executives to participate‚ despite extensive negotiations. However‚ this move is part of a broader initiative by the senators‚ especially Senator Graham‚ who has been a vocal advocate for the EARN IT Act. This proposed legislation‚ championed by Graham‚ rightly seeks to address online child exploitation but has raised concerns due to its potential implications for end-to-end encryption and digital privacy. Graham is pushing for a ban on all end-to-end encryption and private messaging‚ and advocating for Big Tech to scan even the “private” messages of its users. Critics argue that the EARN IT Act could lead to a significant reduction in privacy in the digital domain by effectively banning robust encryption methods. In their joint statement‚ Durbin and Graham stressed the bipartisan effort to protect children from the perils of the online world‚ citing it as a major concern for parents. They criticized the failure of Big Tech to self-regulate in this regard. The senators reminded the public of their previous warning to tech companies during a February hearing about their responsibilities in safeguarding children online. They see the upcoming hearing as a crucial platform for these CEOs to account for their companies’ lapses in protecting children and to contribute to resolving the crisis of online child sexual exploitation. Additionally‚ the Senators are in talks with Meta and TikTok‚ expecting voluntary testimonies from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew at the December 6 hearing. This ongoing dialogue with major tech firms highlights the Senate’s determination to confront the issue of online child safety‚ a cause that Senator Graham is using to bolster support for the controversial EARN IT Act. The post Tech CEOs Are Subpoenaed To Testify on Child Abuse Content appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

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Have you ever wondered what the Devil would say if he could write a letter to a human being? Well‚ you are not alone. In 1676‚ a Sicilian nun named Maria Crocifissa della Concezione claimed that she had received such a letter from the Prince of Darkness himself. The letter was written in a mysterious code that baffled scholars for centuries‚ until recently‚ when a team of researchers used a software found on the dark web to decipher it. What did they find? And what does it tell us about the nun‚ the Devil‚ and the history of cryptography? The nun and the letter Maria Crocifissa della Concezione was born Isabella Tomasi in 1645. She was a descendant of the aristocratic Tomasi family‚ which included the famous writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. At the age of 15‚ she entered the Benedictine convent of Palma di Montechiaro in Sicily‚ where she took the name Maria Crocifissa. She was known to be a talented musician and painter‚ but also prone to visions and fits of hysteria. She believed that she was often possessed by the Devil‚ who tried to lure her away from her faith. On August 11‚ 1676‚ she was found unconscious in her cell‚ with ink stains on her hands and face‚ and a letter on her desk. The letter was written in an unknown alphabet‚ composed of 14 symbols and 500 letters. She claimed that the letter was dictated to her by the Devil during one of her possessions‚ and that she had no idea what it meant. She and her fellow nuns believed that the letter was a trap set by Satan to make her renounce God. The letter was kept in the convent’s archives for centuries‚ along with other writings and paintings by Maria Crocifissa. It was one of several coded letters that she produced during her life‚ but the only one that survived. Many scholars and cryptographers tried to crack the code‚ but none succeeded. The code and the software In 2017‚ a group of researchers from the Ludum Science Center in Sicily obtained a copy of the letter and decided to try a new approach. They used a software that they found on the dark web‚ which they believed was used by intelligence services for codebreaking. The software used artificial intelligence and deep learning to compare the symbols in the letter with various alphabets and languages. The researchers primed the software with ancient Greek‚ Arabic‚ Latin‚ and Runic alphabets‚ as well as some invented symbols. They then fed it the text of the letter and waited for the results. To their surprise‚ the software managed to decipher 15 lines of the letter‚ revealing a mixture of languages and references. The message and the meaning The deciphered text of the letter revealed a bizarre and inconsistent message‚ full of blasphemies and insults against God‚ Jesus‚ and the Holy Spirit. The letter also expressed some philosophical thoughts about human nature‚ free will‚ and evil. Here are some excerpts from the letter: – “God thinks he can free mortals” – “This system works for no one” – “Perhaps now‚ Styx is certain” – “The Holy Trinity are dead weights” – “Nobody can pay us” – “You are all flames” – “You are all fire” – “You are all burning” The researchers concluded that the letter was not really written by the Devil‚ but by Maria Crocifissa herself. They suggested that she had a good command of languages‚ which allowed her to invent the code‚ and that she may have suffered from a mental condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder‚ which made her imagine dialogues with the Devil. They also noted that some of the phrases in the letter were similar to those found in other historical texts‚ such as The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli or The City of God by Saint Augustine. This indicated that Maria Crocifissa was well-read and influenced by various sources. The researchers published their findings in a paper titled “The Devil’s Letter: A Cryptographic Mystery from 1676”. They also received many inquiries from curious people and satanic sects who wanted to know more about the letter. The mystery and the history The letter from Maria Crocifissa is a glimpse into the history of religion‚ culture‚ and psychology in 17th century Europe. At that time‚ Europe was undergoing major social and political changes‚ such as the rise of absolutism‚ nationalism‚ and colonialism‚ the decline of feudalism‚ and the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War. It was also a period of scientific and artistic innovation‚ as well as religious conflict and persecution. The Catholic Church was facing challenges from the Protestant Reformation‚ the Enlightenment‚ and the rise of secularism. It responded with the Counter-Reformation‚ which aimed to reform the Church from within and to combat heresy and dissent. The Church also promoted the cult of saints and relics‚ as well as the practice of exorcism and witch-hunting. In this context‚ many people experienced religious visions‚ miracles‚ and possessions‚ which were often interpreted as signs of divine or demonic intervention. Some of these people were revered as saints or mystics‚ while others were condemned as heretics or witches. Some of them were also involved in cryptography‚ either to conceal their messages from enemies or to communicate with supernatural beings. Maria Crocifissa was one of these people. She lived in a time and place where the boundaries between reality and fantasy‚ between faith and reason‚ between God and the Devil‚ were blurred and contested. Her letter is a testament to her personal struggle‚ as well as to the larger historical forces that shaped her world. The post Cracking the Devil’s letter: A 17th century nun’s coded message appeared first on Anomalien.com.