My life's been spent in dark company. I was born into the brotherhood of the bad, son of a sea wolf pirate and dagger wielding whore. I know evil inside and outside and every way around about. People rob, rape and ravage for all kinds of reasons or for no reasons at all. Never have I ever come face to face with a man who murders for the gods.

Morann is the darkest one of all. Datho proudly introduces him as "the sacrificer" as if it is as fine a title as bo-aire or prince. He is careful not to look straight at him, though, as he says his name. Slyly I observe how Datho keeps his one hand behind his back and I would wager what teeth I have left in this rotting skull that he's making a secret finger sign to protect his own skin while he fawns over Morann. And what would we be doing with a sacrificer among us?

Not long before I know. Keu's crazy arm rises up, twitching like a water-witch's wand. He is pointing to something on the ground by the fire. His face is twisted in a horrible grimace. I'm almost afeared to look. I probably seen worse, whatever it is, and so I raise up on me toes and let Keu's finger show the way.

In his raven voice, 'Daig blurts out, "It's the Rian of Niafer!"

Morann shows his teeth. His grin brings a shudder to me spine. More chillin' still is the face of the woman, living and dead at the same time. She's flat on her back, arms and legs thrown out as if she fell down out of the sky, and her white, empty face might as well be the moon. I hate to look at her so I look up, find the swelling crescent just to be sure it is still in place, and hide one hand behind me to make Datho's secret finger sign.

We are invited to join the feasting and drinking that's going on all around the living corpse woman. To most of them, she is not there at all. It will take a lot of drinking before she disappears to me. I sit down with Datho on one side, Huath on the other. There is lots of bloody talk about what we'll do when the Niafer war band comes. It gets bloodier each time the cup is passed. Warmed by the fire, the drink and as much venison as I can eat, the darkness slowly becomes a friend again.