“And yet they can still die,” Pilgrim muttered in return, watching the crocodile’s body subside into the marsh water, its death twitches fading.

Bleed them enough and they’ll die, the voice confirmed. But I doubt they’ll all bleed so easily.

Pilgrim straightened, turning to find them all regarding him with new eyes. The speed with which he had decapitated the crocodile spoke of something beyond human skill, stirring inevitable suspicion. As did his habit of speaking to someone none of them could see. Book seemed most troubled of all, his heavy, bushy brows drawn together in harsh and intent appraisal. It slipped away when Pilgrim met his eyes, the northlander forcing an affable but patently false smile as he inclined his head in appreciation.

“Quite an arm you have, friend,” he said.

Beside him, Player suddenly raised his crossbow, aiming at a ripple in the water several yards off. “Save your bolts,” Pilgrim told him. A swift survey of their surroundings confirmed the crocodile hadn’t been alone, small dark protrusions broke the surface all around as eyes rose to regard their newfound prey.

“This way,” Priest said, hurrying towards a fork in the road and taking the westward path. The rest of them followed in short order, matching the cleric’s pace as he began to run. Pilgrim kept careful watch on the waters as they moved, seeing several scaled tails leaving broad wakes in the marsh water. As yet, none felt the urge to attack. What concerned him more was a swell he saw at the fringes of the mist. It moved in parallel to the reptiles but the height of the swell spoke of something far larger.

Player evidently saw it too for Pilgrim heard the snap of his crossbow’s cord. The bolt birthed a white plume of water in the centre of the swell which failed to slow in response. Instead, it accelerated and began to sweep towards the road. Pilgrim saw long tails thrash the water as the crocodiles swiftly cleared a path for the larger creature.

“You fool!” Seeker cursed at Player. “You never provoke one of them , even were it not cursed.”

“You know what that is?” Pilgrim asked her.

“I do. And we need to run faster.”

A grunt sounded from up ahead as Pilgrim saw Priest make a short leap across a narrow gap in the road. He landed on firmer ground and immediately ran towards what appeared to be some form of ruin in the centre of a low islet. “Hurry!” he called over his shoulder. “It will shield us!”