“The Scripture of the Fall does not list them,” Priest replied. “And much knowledge has been lost. We are left with but one phrase, ‘And so did He gather together all manner of tooth and claw from every corner of the Five Seas.’”

“All manner of tooth and claw,” Book repeated with a sour edge to his voice. “Wonderful.”

“We’re wasting time,” Pilgrim said, starting towards the road. “Best prime that,” he added to Player, nodding to his crossbow.

He took the lead with Priest close behind, the others strung out in single file with Seeker in the rear. She moved with her bow in hand and an arrow nocked to the string, Chena at her side, her maw quivering in a continual snarl as she stared at the passing marsh with baleful intensity. The mist concealed much of their surroundings and made navigation difficult. The old road they followed branched off in several places, the cobbles sometimes disappearing beneath the green-tinged waters for several yards. Whenever the route became obscure Priest would mutter which direction to take, Pilgrim finding it odd that he made no recourse to a map of any kind.

“All Priests of the Absolved are set to memorising the route to the Crescent from the moment they join the order,” the cleric said when Pilgrim questioned his instruction to keep on through a foot-deep stretch of water. “Failure to recall it in its entirety is punished severely.”

“Is that why you were beaten the day before we arrived?” Pilgrim asked.

Priest said nothing until they had sloshed their way through the obstacle, and when he did his answer was short, “No punishment is undeserved in service to the Absolved.” His words had the cadence of an oft-repeated mantra that caused Pilgrim to conclude this would be a fruitless subject to pursue.

“They almost took you,” he said instead. “Back on the Sands. Did you know that? You were about to tell a shade your name. Or did you think it just a bad dream?”

“I…would have warded it away. My faith in the Absolved…”

“Didn’t protect you. And it won’t. Shades don’t care what you believe or how fiercely you believe it. Your name gives them purchase on your soul and thence your body. Next time, don’t allow your arrogance to endanger this pilgrimage.” He glanced over his shoulder, fixing Priest’s gaze. “I am intent upon reaching the Crescent. Have no doubt I will do whatever is necessary to get there.”

The youth stared back at him, fear and defiance plain in his gaze. He began to voice a reply but stopped at the sound of coughing from behind. Pilgrim retraced his steps to find Maisha sunken to her haunches, back bent as she let out a series of deep, wracking coughs. Kusiph crouched at her side, his hand massaging her back as he murmured comforting words.