‘No. It’s … The teaching of the True Church, the reason for its foundation … This was the seat of the Church, the Old Church. But they abandoned it, turned their backs to God, spurned the Shepherd. They … According to the Articles … They tore down their chapels, desecrated them. The seat of the Church was lost, the city and its region were deemed Godless. The New Church arose from the ruins, a church for the people, the true believers, who would never again …’ He tailed off, looking miserable.

‘But if there’s an old chapel here …’ Chel said, eyes on Foss, waiting for him to complete the thought.

Lemon did it for him. ‘… Then the old foundation story ain’t quite so pure and virtuous, eh? Oh, chin up, Fossy, it’s not like the current bunch are a particularly fine exponent of the Shepherd’s ethics, is it?’

Kosh sniffed. ‘Your people’s need to invent mythical figures of worship appears to be some kind of tribal failing, and should long ago have been stamped out. The inbreeding of your continent presents many lingering issues.’

‘Hoy,’ Lemon said, ‘I’ll have you know—’

‘Yes, yes, “No Clyde is beholden to any God”, very bold. I’m sure you find other ways to be subverted by intercessors.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘In this uncultured south, you are a fearful, uneducated people, ripe for prescription. Tell the mud-dwellers that an invisible sky-demon wants their labour or land, or that perhaps a man with a golden crown has the backing of the so-called Almighty and must be obeyed, and they fall over themselves to do as they’re told. The ignorant masses just want to feel like they’re on the right side, after all.’

Foss was staring at her, nostrils flared. ‘You say too much, young lady.’

‘I say nothing less obvious than the nose on your face. Power structures that claim authority from things unseen are exploitative by definition, especially when such claims are enforced with fear of a conveniently unverifiable afterlife. Any student of history, anyone with half-a-day’s learning, will see this. Unless, of course, their position in said structure defines their worth.’

‘Meaning?’ Chel said.

‘Meaning that nobody wants to look too closely at the contents of the pie they are selling, and that, paradoxically, those with the power to change affairs have the least incentive to do so. It can require an outside influence to effect change, as we say in my country.’

‘No gods in your country, Nort?’

They turned toward the front of the wagon. Rennic was watching, eyes intent, ignoring the wagon’s rock. Chel had had no idea the big man had been listening.

Kosh made a moue. ‘The true spirits are those in material things, in the wood and the water. The spirit of the ore, ground and fired and rolled as steel, honed and hammered and pressed into service, respected, venerated. The partnership of craftsman and element.’