«Nightwind was by. We talked a little. He'd been across the river into town. A man was torn apart, as by a particularly vicious dog. I thought of you.»

«Not me, not me,» I said.

«There must be more of these, of course, as the others seek their ingredients. This will make the people wary, the streets better patrolled between now and the big event.»

«I suppose so. Pity.»

We reached Rastov's place. A small light burned within.

«He works late.»

«Or very early.»

«Yes.»

In my mind, I traced a path back to my own home. Then I turned and headed across fields to the old farmhouse where Morris and MacCab resided. Graymalk continued with me. A piece of the moon began to rise. Clouds slid quickly across the sky, their bellies tickled by the light. Graymalk's eyes flashed.

When we reached the place I stood among long grasses. There were lights within.

«More work,» she said.

«Who?» came Nightwind's voice from atop the barn.

«Shall we answer?»

«Why not?» I said.

She offered her name. I growled my own. Nightwind departed his perch to circle us, finally alighting nearby.

«You know each other,» he remarked.

«We are acquainted.»

«What do you want here?»

«I wanted to ask you about that killing in town,» I said. «You saw it?»

«Only after it had occurred and been discovered.»

«So you did not see which of us was about it?»

«No. If indeed it were one of us.»

«How many of us are there, Nightwind? Can you tell me that?»

«I don't know that such knowledge should be dispensed. It may come under my prohibitions.»

«A trade then? We list the ones we know. If there is one among them you do not know, you furnish us with another we do not know, if you can.»

He swiveled his head around backwards to think, then said, «That sounds fair. It would save us all time. Very well. You know of my masters, and I know both of yours. That's four.»