From Inside the Grey House:
Natalia was taken aback. She read of the ritual tongue removal but thought it had faded with time. It was popular with a group of Slayers during colonial times; used to ensure no one could tell their secrets when accused of being witches. Stunned, Natalia opened her mouth to speak, but Vincent beat her to it.
“Enough. Go upstairs Natalia. I’ll join you shortly.” There was no emotion to his voice.
Natalia looked at Vincent’s inscrutable back, reading nothing from his posture. She nodded once to Mierka and left the dungeon, using Vincent’s pass code to exit. She walked proudly upstairs, wondering at her punishment.
Cat Stark 