Chapter Four

Lore laughs at Anton's claim that the Church needs her help, pointing out that seeking aid from an unsanctioned Mortem wielder sounds like heresy. Anton answers that heresy can be forgiven for the greater good and explains that the Presque Mort serve by submitting to darkness in the Bleeding God's name. Lore refuses any suggestion of joining them, but Anton clarifies that the Church wants her abilities, not her membership.

After Gabriel cuts Lore's bonds, Anton questions what she knows about the village deaths. Lore recounts the rumors about Shademount: an entire village found dead without wounds, poison, or signs of sickness. Anton reveals that the rumors are true and that a second village, Orlimar, died the same way two nights earlier, making the disaster larger and more urgent than Lore knew.

Anton explains that the Church wants Lore to use necromancy as she did with Horse: raise one of the dead villagers long enough to ask what happened before death. Lore is horrified and insists the Presque Mort should do it themselves, but Gabriel says resurrection is beyond their abilities. Anton makes clear that refusal would mean execution, burning, or exile to the Burnt Isles, where prisoners labor in dangerous coal mines.

Gabriel and Anton frame the assignment as a matter of national security, because both dead villages lie along the Kirythean border and tensions with the Empire are already worsening. Anton then reveals a second task: the Church believes someone in the Citadel court may be passing information to Kirythea, possibly the Sun Prince, Bastian. Because Lore is a spy and can plausibly attract Bastian's attention, Anton intends to place her at court.

Lore struggles to understand how she will become part of the court, but Anton says matters will become clearer once they speak to his brother, the Sainted King, before the Consecration ceremony. Faced with the choice between the Burnt Isles and the court, Lore agrees. Anton accepts her answer as expected and leads the way to meet the king.