Generally, in the Wild, one either kept away from dying creatures or fed on them. He suspected he should run. The man’s apparent helplessness did little to put him at ease, and there was something about him that seemed dangerous. Keeping a hold of the door should he need to close it in a hurry, Sa-at tried to find his words.

‘It isn’t often I get visitors.’ The man’s voice was so raw, it sounded like it hurt him to talk. ‘Come a little closer so I might see you properly.’

Sa-at shook his head.

‘Fair enough.’ He closed his eyes.

Now that Sa-at had been here for a little longer, his palm was telling him other things too. Something terrible had happened in this place, it reeked of pain. Sa-at couldn’t follow the translation from scent to emotion clearly, but he knew that someone, most likely the man, had suffered here. He was still afraid to enter the room properly, but he found he didn’t want to leave either. Caught between pity and wariness, he remained where he was until his heart, unable to maintain its tension indefinitely, began to settle.

‘Hello,’ he said softly.

The man’s right eye cracked open. ‘He speaks!’

‘Yes.’

‘Does he have a name?’

‘Yes.’ Sa-at pointed a finger. ‘You first.’

‘Ah, interesting. So you are not with my captors then?’

‘Is that a demon?’

The man made a barking sound and Sa-at wondered if he was getting ready to die. ‘Of a kind, I suppose. But no, not a demon as you would think of one. A captor is one that holds another prisoner. Did you know I was a prisoner?’

Sa-at shook his head.

‘Now you do.’

He ducked out of the room back into the main part of the house and picked through the things there until he found some bottles of water. Then he went back to the man and offered one to him. When it became apparent the man couldn’t take it, Sa-at put it to his lips.

‘Thank you. I still don’t know your name.’

He was just about to answer, then frowned. ‘You first.’

‘Very good! I think you and I are going to get on. My name is Lord Rochant, child of the Sapphire Everlasting.’

‘Does that mean you’re a Deathless?’

‘It does.’

‘Why are you here?’

‘That is a long story. The simple answer is that my enemies caught me and brought me here.’

Sa-at thought for a moment. ‘I could help you.’

‘I hope so. I could certainly use some help though between us, I wish you’d come here fifteen years earlier.’

‘Sorry.’

‘No need to apologize.’ His other eye opened and he peered at Sa-at. ‘I doubt you were much more than a babe then.’

‘Do you know about the Scuttling Corpseman?’

There was a pause, then: ‘Yes. Oh yes, I know more about the Corpseman than any living thing.’