40

At least that's what he seems to be saying; your understanding of the local language is still limited, though you seem to have acquired a rudimentary understanding of the tongue during your long convalescence.

Because people spoke around you while you slept? That must be why. You force yourself to stop scratching at your hand.

This "Apostolic Mound"—that's the best translation you can manage—has the ability to speak with the voice of distant people, even, Chief Kothis insists, the gods.

Stralchus scoffs. Keimia states that since Stralchus is too afraid of the journey, she and her warriors will guard you on the way. You suspect she and Stralchus have sparred over this before.

Kothis says that he, too, has questions of the Apostolic Mound. You and he can work together.