slowly she moved the sarcophagus out of the case and into position, levitating it gently so as not to jostle the contents. easing it into a laying position and settling it on the slab, she prepared herself. as she removed the lid, her assistant stepped up with a skein of thick blue thread, curved needle, and shears. he stood silently and awaited her.
looking into the bottom of the sarcophagus, she steeled herself and picked up pieces of the body within. matching up pieces and laying them out a couple at a time, she turned to her assistant and took the needle. measuring out a length of thread, she threaded the needle as he cut it. quickly and efficiently she set to work stitching the pieces back together.
once all of the pieces were matched and stitched back together, she rinsed her hands and the needle in a silver bowl set next to her by a guardian while she had worked. it cleared the bowl as the water clouded with blood, replacing it with fresh liquid. her assistant stepped away and brought back lengths of bandages to wrap the body with. the guardian produced towels to lave the body with and clean the gore away.
levitating the body and removing the sarcophagus, she wet a towel and began to bathe the body. after completing that task, she carefully wound the bandages around each stitched laceration.
finishing her task, she stepped back from the slab and let the body settle into place. the guardian placed a trencher of bread and salt at its base. her assistant placed a pitcher of honey mead beside the trencher. stepping back, they bowed their heads.
the silent vigil began.
