The small amount of jaw showing under the Ox’s mask lifted. “Credit goes to Bear’s grandfather, actually” she said. “He put up the funds for Bear to start the cadre, introduced her to the proper Senate rank and file, with certain conditions…” She held up a finger. “One of which being we stay masked while we’re on a job, before and after we catch our quarry. Most instances, yours for example,” she dipped her head at Anji, “we’re escorting prisoners to an execution. There’s typically a trial beforehand, of course, but you can bet if the Menagerie is called to task, the charge is a damn sight more guilty than their neck can afford.”

The Goat muttered something about “vagrants” as he worked, but the Ox continued, swatting at a snapfly buzzing around the smoking fish.

“So,” she said, “seeing as the days with us are usually their last, we afford them the anonymity of their captors. We’re escorting a prisoner, yes, but still a person. It’s a respect granted to you not to see our faces. Not to have to compare yourself to the living, which you will no longer be once—well, you know.”

The Goat mimed drawing his bloody knife across his neck. A lump formed in Anji’s throat, but she shifted closer. “Are they really maxial?”

“They are,” said the Ox, “but not so much as all those songs make out.”

Anji blanched and the Ox guffawed, lifting the pan off the heat and flipping the fish with a flick of her wrist. “They help us see in the dark, mostly. Another gift from Bear’s grandfather. He was a Maxia.”

“Damned powerful one too,” said the Goat. The Ox ignored him.

“He enchanted the masks with his final breath,” she continued, “so they’re effective forever without draining us.” She looked up from the pan. “Didn’t Hawk explain any of this?”

Anji’s mouth twisted. “She only told me how horrible the rest of you are. And that I was going to be tortured and executed. She was very clear about that.”

“But you asked questions, yes?” said the Ox.

Anji nodded.

“And she refused to answer?”

“Nearly every time,” said Anji.

“She’s not keeping the tenets,” said the Goat. “Ungrateful bitch.”

“Goat,” said the Ox, twitching her mask around, but she didn’t admonish him further. Turning back to Anji, she slammed the pan against the rocks. “It doesn’t matter—pointless to expect…” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t think she had another job in her.”

“You weren’t expecting her to go after me?” said Anji.