but no matter how hard she tried to disbelieve it , shirking all nourishment she wouldnt even take a sip of milk raddia knew that their bitter day , with terrifying prematureness , had arrived ; after seven days of fasting and mind-silence , they would be taken to the ritual grounds by their makers ( the shame , that lorn and navva should still be alive to witness , unthinkably , obscenely , their mating ! )