Sa-at was glad to leave the oak behind. There was little conversation as they travelled, both of them focused on moving Rochant as quietly as possible. Sa-at thought about what had happened. Rochant’s advice had worked and he had learned something important, a new way to think. He had changed in some way he did not fully understand, and in doing so, the world had changed too. Sa-at found this very exciting.

Wrath’s Tear was well into the sky now, the other two suns not far behind, and the forest was quiet. However, it was not just demons that were hunting them. There was the woman with the golden lips and her knife-wielding companion. The rising suns would do nothing to slow them down.

When they’d put as much distance between them and Sorn as they possibly could, the trio stopped to rest in a spot where the earth had sagged, leaving a grassy nook for them to shelter in. They propped Rochant against the side of the nook, flopping down either side of him so that he wouldn’t topple over. At first all that could be heard was their panting for breath, then came the rumbling of bellies not fed in far too long.

‘Give me a bit,’ said Tal, ‘and I’ll go and find us some food.’

‘Where are we?’ asked Rochant.

‘Safe,’ replied Sa-at.

He closed his eyes. ‘Go on.’

‘Go on where?’

‘You said you’d get me away from my enemies and keep me safe, and you have. That means it’s your turn. Ask your questions.’

‘I want to know about the Corpseman.’

‘You need to be more specific.’

He tried to think about what Murderkind had told him. The demon had wanted understanding about the Corpseman and something about its relationship with the other demons. ‘Why are the other demons flocking on its banner.’

‘To its banner.’

Sa-at frowned at him. ‘I said that.’

‘You didn’t. You said “flocking on”. They don’t land on its banner. The Corpseman doesn’t even have a banner.’ He opened his eyes again. ‘Do you know what a banner is?’

‘No.’

‘Then why are you smiling?’

‘Because I’m going to learn new words.’

Rochant didn’t exactly smile back, but the skin around his eyes crinkled like he was happy with that answer. ‘A banner is a flag, a piece of cloth that bears the sign of a group or a person.’

‘Do you have one?’

‘Yes, every Deathless has their own.’

‘Can you tell me about it?’

‘I’d like to show you one day.’

Sa-at nodded. I’d like that too. ‘What does flocking to a banner mean?’

‘It’s a way of saying that other demons have joined the Corpseman and are fighting with it.’

‘Ah. I want to understand it.’

‘The Corpseman?’