The Grave thief

been appeased, and they had decided to accept the presence of a human as impossibly stealthy as they themselves were. Their absence made Mihn feel strangely alone.

He had been staring at the water for too long, lost in his disquietude, but nothing had changed. He was considering taking the little rowboat out so he could try his hand at fishing when a distant sound caught his ear – running footsteps, maybe?

Scarcely had he turned back to the forest when a girl of no more than twelve summers came careening down the path through the trees and stumbled to a halt in front of him. As she stared open-mouthed at the former Harlequin, he took note of her own appearance: bright blue eyes and a reddened nose peeking out from under a sandy mess of hair.

'Are you looking for me?' Mihn asked softly, trying hard to sound friendly and approachable, but the very act of speaking almost spooked the girl into scampering back the way she'd come.

'What's your name?' he tried again.

The girl swallowed. 'Chera, sir.'

Her faded dress had red flowers poorly embroidered along the hem. He guessed it had belonged to at least one older sibling before her. He gave a little bow. 'Hello, Chera. I am Mihn ab Netren ab Felith. Have you been sent to find me?'

'Y- Yes, sir. She's screamin', sir, that brown girl, screamin' like the creatures of the Dark Place is after 'er.'

Mihn frowned at the child's choice of words and she edged back a step, frightened by his expression.

He smoothed out his frown and asked gently, 'Did the witch say I was to return with you?'

Chera shook her head. 'Twilight, sir' she muttered. 'She said to make yersel' ready and come at the ghost hour.'

Mihn nodded gravely. 'The ghost hour it is. Thank you, Chera.'

He stood impassively, waiting until the child had disappeared back into the trees before he gave in to the overwhelming emotion that had hit him at her words.

His face drained of blood and he sank to his knees, his legs betraying him. Gasping like a drowning man, he allowed a single moan of sorrow to escape his lips before he buried his face in his tattooed palms.

'Isak,' he whispered, choking on his own tears. 'Merciful Gods, Isak, what have we done?'

The story continues in

THE RAGGED MAN

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Aftal, Voss – Farian cleric and High Priest of Nartis in Tirah

Afasin, Cardinal – White-eye general of the Knights of the Temples and

ruler of Mustet Alav – Goddess of Justice, replaced Kebren during the Age of Darkness Alterr – Goddess of the Night Sky and Greater Moon and member of

the Upper Circle of the Pantheon Amavoq – Goddess of the Forest, patron of the Yeetatchen and member

of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon Amber – Nickname of a Menin major in the Cheme Third Legion Ankremer, Major Belir – Farian soldier, bastard of the previous Duke

of Lomin Antern, Count Opess – Advisor to King Emin Antil, High Priest Alos – High Priest of Shotir in the Byora quarter of

the Circle City Aracnan – Immortal wanderer of unknown origin Ardela – Farian devotee of the Lady, first in Cardinal Certinse's employ,

then Chief-Steward Lesarl's Aryn Bwr – Battle name of the last Elven king, who led their rebellion

against the Gods. His true name has been excised from history Asenn – Goddess of Rain and Snow, daughter of Lliot Astin – Mercenary-turned-penitent of Ushull in the Circle City Atro – Previous Lord of the Farian before Lord Bahl Ayel, High Priest Ora – High Priest of Vasle and advisor to General

Afasin Azaer – A shadow

Bahl – Lord of the Farian tribe before Lord Isak Belarannar – Goddess of the Earth and member of the Upper Circle of

the Pantheon, once patron of the Vukotic tribe Bern, Jopel – High Priest of Death in Tirah. Beyn, Ignas – Member of the Brotherhood

Bissen – Mage in the employ of Natai Escral, the Duchess of Byora Bolla Mercenary-turned-penitent of Ushull in the Circle City Boren, Litt Farian forester

Borse, Sir Gliwen – Farlan nobleman from Lomin

Brandt, Commander (Brandt Toquin) – Deceased commander of the

Narkang City Watch. Younger brother of Suzerain Toquin Burning Man, the – One of the Reapers, the five Aspects of Death Cambrey Smoulder – Aspect of Ushull, local to the Circle City Carasay, Sir Cerse – Colonel of the Palace Guard of Tirah, from the Torl

suzerainty Carel (Carelfolden), Marshal Betyn – Mentor and friend of Lord Isak,

former Commander of his personal guard Celao, Lord – Litse white-eye, Chosen of Hit and ruler of the Ismess

quarter of the Circle City Cerdin – God of Thieves Certinse, Knight-Cardinal Horel – Commander of the Knights of the

Temples, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Farlan by birth Certinse, Cardinal Varn – Farlan cleric. Third son of the Tildek

Suzerainty, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Knight-Cardinal Certinse and Duchess Lomin Certinse, Duke Karlat – Farlan nobleman, ruler of Lomin, grandson of

Suzerain Tildek Chalat – Deposed Lord of the Chetse Chera – A little girl from Llehden Chirialt, Dermeness – Farlan mage

Chotech, General – Chetse general of the Knights of the Temples Citizen – see Dei, Kepra Conjurer – Farlan mage and member of Chief Steward Lesarl's coterie of

secret advisors Coran – White-eye bodyguard of King Emin Thonal of Narkang Corast, Petril – Farlan forester Corerr – A junior priest from the Harlequin clans Corlyn – The traditional name adopted by the head of the Farlan's priest

branch of the Cult of Nartis Cormeh, Scion Tew – Farlan nobleman, heir to the Cormeh suzerainty Cuder, Sir Creyl – Knight of Narkang, founding member of the

Brotherhood organisation Dahten, Sir – Farlan nobleman, head of Suzerain Torl's hurscals Dake, Colonel – Member of the Knights of the Temples, originally from

Canar Thrit Dancer – Farlan nobleman and member of Chief Steward Lesarl's coterie

of secret advisors Dare, Legion Chaplain – Farlan chaplain, second only to High Chaplain

Mochyd Darn, Major Ferek – Menin major in the Cheme Third Legion Dast, Garan – Byoran government minister

Death-Chief of the Gods and head of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon Deebek, Sergeant Menin soldier in the