'We have other names for ourselves, but yes.' She inclined her head gently, her eyes never leaving his. 'The priests made me eat my mother first. When they found me. It was that or die, and the need to live was so very great, before. I wept afterwards, but that was long ago and there are no tears left in me. I disgust myself, of course. Sometimes I need to kill, sometimes I wish to die. I deserve to. Of that I have no doubts. My only certainty.'

I should have known better than to expect straight answers. One almost feels nostalgic for the Mercers. Their crimes, at least, I could understand. Still, any answers are better than none. 'Why do you eat?'

'Because the bird eats the worm. Because the spider eats the fly. Because Khalul desires it and we are the Prophet's children. Juvens was betrayed, and Khalul swore vengeance, but he stood alone against many. So he made his great sacrifice, and broke the Second Law, and the righteous joined with him, more and more with the passing years. Some joined him willingly. Some not. But none have denied him. My siblings are many, now, and each of us must make our sacrifice.'

Glokta gestured at the brazier. 'You feel no pain?'

'I do not, but plentiful remorse.'

'Strange. It's the other way around for me.'

'You, I think, are the lucky one.'

He snorted. 'Easy to say until you find you can't piss without wanting to scream.'

'I hardly remember what pain feels like, now. All that was long ago. The gifts are different for each of us. Strength, and speed, and endurance beyond the limits of the human. Some of us can take forms, or trick the eye, or even use the Art, the way that Juvens taught his apprentices. The gifts are different for each of us, but the curse is the same.' She stared at Glokta, head cocked over to one side.

Let me guess. 'You can't stop eating.'

'Not ever. And that is why the Gurkish appetite for slaves is never-ending. There is no resisting the Prophet. I know. Great Father Khalul.' And her eyes rolled up reverently towards the ceiling. 'Arch Priest of the Temple of Sarkant. Holiest of all whose feet touch the earth. Humbler of the proud, righter of wrongs, teller of truths. Light shines from him as it shines from the stars. When he speaks it is with the voice of God. When he—'

'No doubt he shits golden turds as well. You believe all that rubbish?'

'What does it matter what I believe? I don't make the choices. When your master gives you a task, you do your best at it. Even if the task is a dark one.'

That much I can understand. 'Some of us are only suited to dark tasks. Once you've chosen your master—'