‘The thing that really cuts deep, my dear, is not that you are capable of such horror, but that you display no remorse, nor even guilt for your actions. You make out that I don’t understand you or the road-born. But the problem, your problem, is that I see all too clearly.’

He opened his mouth to reply and she stuffed it full of fabric. ‘Actually, I think that’s enough from you. Goodbye, Rochant.’

And with that, she turned, leaving the room, and her past behind.

It was late afternoon as Sa-at peered around a tree and caught sight of Sorn. After a glance about its silent streets, he waved for Tal to join him, wincing at the sound of the Gatherer’s heavy boots crunching, crunching, crunching.

The more Sa-at looked, the more confused he became. Very little of the outer fence remained, allowing him a clear view into what remained of the settlement. The buildings were so buried by greenery that it was hard to guess their true shapes. ‘Is this Sorn?’

‘I think so. Looks weird though.’

‘Where are all the people?’

‘With the Corpse—’ Tal slapped a hand over his mouth, then added, ‘—with that demon. Must be it’s eaten them all by now. If they’re lucky.’

Both boys shivered.

‘But where is it?’ asked Sa-at. The place looked deserted, aside from a few animals that had made nests in rooftops or within the abandoned houses. More than that, it felt … unclaimed. As if Sorn didn’t really belong to the Corpseman after all, like it didn’t really belong to anyone.

‘I dunno,’ mused Tal. ‘Hiding maybe? Demons have to sleep in the day.’

Crowflies took this moment to land in the tree above them, throwing back its feathered head to give a screeching laugh. Tal jumped.

‘Crowflies,’ said Sa-at quietly, smiling. He always felt a little safer when Crowflies was around.

‘Sa-aat!’

Tal glared at it. ‘Horrible thing! Get away!’

‘Don’t be like that.’

‘Why not?’

‘Crowflies is my friend.’

‘Really?’ When Sa-at nodded, he muttered, ‘It looks funny to me, even for a Birdkin.’

‘It’s a demon but it’s a nice one.’

‘There are no nice demons!’

‘Well, it saved your life once.’

‘When?’

‘When the spiders tried to put a baby inside you. Crowflies sucked it out so you wouldn’t die.’ He nodded towards the branches. ‘You should be grateful.’

Tal’s face paled but he faced the Birdkin. ‘Uh, thank you, Crowflies.’ He lowered his voice and turned back to Sa-at. ‘I still don’t see why it had to scream like that.’

‘It wasn’t screaming. It was laughing.’

‘What’s funny?’

You talking about demons like you know them, when you don’t, Sa-at thought but didn’t say. ‘Nothing.’

Crowflies laughed again, which made him feel conflicted, because now he wasn’t sure if the Birdkin was laughing with him or at him.