Book One – Chapter 18

She brought out a narrow flask, greenish within. “Cinian. It clears the head of weakness. If the patient is already weak in mind and body, it strengthens. If the strong drink it, they will hallucinate and faint. In most cases, that is. One must always distinguish between peoples, when giving care.”

Yu’s beak clicked as he swallowed. “Understood.”

He did not understand.

He had no idea what weakness meant, but the word slipped away the moment he heard it, like water through claws. His mind had no room for questions. He could not even hold the sensible explanations she gave him, the useful knowledge in all of this. Even the potions’ names dissolved from his memory, as soon as the shaman gave them to him. They simply dissipated between them. What filled the space instead was the silence beneath her mask. Yu’s mind was consumed by the maw and the hidden beast behind it.

The false figure on the outside sat down a clay pot. She opened it. There was a faintly yellow paste within. The underside of the lid bore a multitude of scratches. Not signs of intentional craftsmanship, but rather, like something small had been trapped inside and tried to get out.

“Numa salve to dull the skin and all that lies beneath,” the shaman closed the lid. “A needle may enter, even a knife, and the body does not scream.”

Yu nodded, too fast. “Right.”

She reached for another.

“This now is something truly special.” It was a long flask, crimson as drying blood. “Samra, the Heart-Raiser. A cordial for those drained of blood and warmth. It returns them, if not too far gone. It gives to the heart. But from hearts that take too much, it will demand payment. Though not in equal measure. The mind has to give in return. A patient may survive, yet live emptied, with no self left to notice the beating.”

Yu —

A thin rasp, from behind. Yu stiffened, then turned over his right shoulder, careful not to show his back to the shaman. The sound came first like it was in the walls, then he realised it crawled from the selder’s throat. A small, broken squeal followed, but other than that, the rest of him remained slack, with his back lifting weakly, then falling again. No more —

If they gave him that cordial, would he lose his mind? The question struck sharp. Would he forget all he knew about the true guild guards?

“You are wondering about something,” the shaman said.