‘No. Beware the Corpseman. Its kind were wiped out long before your seed spilled into the world. It should be, not. It should breathe, not. But it does, scuttling between life and not life, beyond my understanding.’

Sa-at felt relief, but also confusion. If it was beyond Murderkind then surely it was beyond him too.

‘You are small, ungoverned by the laws of greater things. You may go where I cannot. Do, what I cannot. Strike, where I cannot. The Corpseman has allies. They will know things, they will tell you.’

‘Why would they listen to me?’

‘Because among these allies are the Red Brothers.’

I know them!

I’ve met them.

Broken memories flashed through his mind. Impressions, incoherent, and feelings. Sweat broke out on his skin and the knuckle of his missing finger began to tingle in an old echo of remembered pain.

I am afraid, he thought.

‘Yes. Be afraid, this is good.’

‘Why?’

‘They owe you, for your flesh, for your suffering. Let the hurt swell inside, and let the debt be all the greater. Go to them, demand retribution, demand their knowledge. Bring their understanding to me.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘If you do this, I will grant your wish for an unbound friend.’

Sa-at bit his lip. ‘What kind of friend?’

‘A sapling, like you. The one you want.’

‘Tal?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you know him?’

‘I have tasted his ears. He is here, in the Wild, and he is in danger.’

‘Is it bad?’

‘He will not live to see the sunsrise.’

‘Where is he?’

‘He weeps within my sight, close to the Red Brothers. Find one and you will find the other.’

‘Tell me!’

‘You agree, then? A wish for a wish?’

‘Yes. Tell me, please.’

‘Crowflies will show you.’ Murderkind’s head pulled up into the shadows, his last words carried in the fluttering of many wings. ‘Be quick, be sharp, be triumphant.’

Birdkin scattered in all directions, their screeches caught in the leaves and recast on the wind. When they were gone, only Crowflies remained, settled again, its usual self. ‘Sa-aat!’ it said, and hopped from the branch, spreading its wings and taking flight.

Sa-at gave chase without a second thought.

CHAPTER EIGHT

There were rules to living in the Wild. Sa-at knew them, and he abided by them. He looked after the trees and they looked after him. Crowflies looked after him too, and Murderkind claimed to be his friend. He did not know why and he did not question it, things had always been that way.

However, Tal did not know the rules, he had proved that when he and the other Gatherers from Sagan nearly got eaten by the Spiderkin. The trees would not look after Tal, quite the opposite, and he would have no Birdkin on his shoulder to guide him.