Gavril shook his head. "I can understand wanting to learn how the body works. I don't understand how anyone gets from that to paying people to supply them with corpses. Surely a physician can learn enough without someone having to die for it."
"Some do," Veyl said. "But not everyone is interested in finding a proper way. When people have money and believe the rules shouldn't apply them, they'll often find someone willing to do what they ask."
"And the merchants were happy to oblige."
"Because they were paid well. Whether the buyer wanted the bodies for experiment, enchantments, merchants had found a way to make money from murder. The purpose may differ, but the people being killed pay the price all the same."
Gavril fell silent for a few moments. His earlier complaints about the journey seemed to have lost their appeal.
"Then how do we know which of those were dealing with?" Viktor asked.
"We don't, now yet." Veyl glanced back towards him. "That is why we investigate rather than decide beforehand. If the Maw is involved, these deliveries may lead us towards another part of its operation. If the bodies were being sold elsewhere, then we may have uncovered another trade that needs to be brought to an end. Either way, the people and places recorded in the ledger need to be investigated, and the deliveries need to be stopped before more people disappear."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
"We cannot accuse everyone whose name appears in the ledger. But we can give the evidence to someone who has the authority to look into it properly."
Gavril looked at him. "Baron?"
"Yes. He has the means to make inquiries and he already understand the danger Maw presents. I'll send him the ledger with a letter explaining what happened here and ask him to investigate discreetly, without alerting anyone who might be involved."
Veyl spoke with certainty.
There was no point in deciding what the records meant before examining them properly.
Gavril shifted again, wincing as the wagon stuck a rut. "at least we are not leaving with nothing. We have a wagon, supplies and a book that might put a few more unpleasant people in trouble."
"Provided we handle it properly.: Veyl reminded him.
"Yes, yes. Properly. Quietly. It would be a shame if all this murder and misery came to nothing because our paperwork was incomplete."
Gavril shook his head, though a faint trace of amusement crossed his face.
Veyl guided the horse around a bend where the trees stood closer to the road, their bare branches reaching overhead.
The conversation had settled the immediate question. They could not undo what the merchants had done, nor could they yet know how far the trade extended. But they could make sure the ledger reached someone capable of following its trail.
For now, that would have to be enough.
The forest was gradually thinning. The road, though still rough, showed more signs of use; deeper wheel ruts, hoof prints pressed into the mud, and the occasional broken branch left by another passing cart. Veyl recognised the signs as they went, judging from them that the town could not be far ahead.
"We should reach the town before nightfall." He said. "Once we are there. Well find shelter and arrange for the letter to be sent."
"And food," Gavril added. "A proper meal. Prepared by someone who isn't trying to poison me."
"You may have to settle for a meal prepared by someone who simply dislikes you," said Veyl.
Viktor smiled faintly at their exchange.
Ahead the road curved out of sight between the trees, leading towards the first signs of civilisation.
The town was small, with no walls or imposing gates to mark its boundaries. A wooden sign hung beside the road, weathered by years of wind and rain, while a handful of carts moved between the scattered buildings. Beyond them stood a modest inn, a blacksmith's workshop and a row of shops whose owners were beginning to bring their goods indoors before evening.
Veyl eased the horse's pace as they approached. People glanced at the wagon as it passed, as they would at any unfamiliar vehicle entering the town.
"An inn first. "He said. "we'll see what rooms are available, get the horse settled and find out what we can about sending a message to Whitehold."
"And food," Gavril added. "You keep leaving out the most important part of every plan."
Viktor smiled to himself as Veyl guided the wagon towards the inn's courtyard. A stable hand came out to meet them, taking the reins while Veyl explained they would need a place to keep the wagon and horse for night.
The man looked over the wagon, checked the horse's condition and offered to put them under a covered shelter beside the stable.
The inn was a plain, sturdy building, its ground floor occupied by a common room with several tables and a wide hearth. The air smelled of woodsmoke, baked bread and the stew simmering in a pot near the fire. A few travellers sat eating while an older woman behind the table counter counted coins.
She looked up when the group entered, "Rooms?"
"Two, if you have them," Veyl replied. "We need one on the ground floor for a man who cannot be moved without help."
The woman's expression grew slightly more attentive.
"Is he injured?"
"He is unconscious and has a fever."
"I have only one room left, but it is in the basement. It's not much but the bed is clean, and you'll have enough space to care for him."
"That will be fine." Gavril said, easing himself onto a bench.
Veyl paid for the room and arranged for the stable-hand to leave the wagon accessible. He and Gavril then returned to Viktor, who had been waiting beside Kaavi.
"Have they given us a room?" Viktor asked.
"Yes. Let's get him inside."
Veyl moved to Kaavi's upper body while Gavril took hold of his legs.
Viktor walked ahead to open the inn's door and clear their path, glancing back several times to make sure they were managing.
They carried Kaavi down the stairs and into the room the innkeeper had prepared. After carefully lowering him onto the bed, they drew the blankets over him. Viktor immediately went to his side and placed a hand against his forehead.
"He's still hot," he said.
Veyl checked Kaavi's breathing. It remained steady, but that did little to settle his concern.
"We'll find a physician." Veyl said. "Until then let him rest."
Viktor nodded, though he remained beside the bed for another moment before following the others upstairs. He wanted to stay with his grandfather but there was little he could do without proper help.
Back in the common room, Veyl spoke to the innkeeper while Gavril lowered himself onto a bench.
"Is there a physician in town?"
"We have a local healer for ordinary aliments," the woman told him. "Though if you are looking for someone who knows his way around, there's a travelling physician staying here at present. Nikolai. He's been treating people for the past several days."
Veyl considered this before asking, "is he a fraud, or is he actually a good doctor?"
The woman looked mildly amused by the question. "If he were a fraud, I doubt people would keep going back to him. The miller's wife swears he saved her boy's hand last week. I have heard no complaints from the others he treated. He seems to know what he is doing, and he doesn't charge people more than they can afford."
"Where can we find him?"
"He is staying in a room behind the apothecary near the market. He sees people there when he is not being called to someone's home."
Veyl thanked her and returned back to eating.
Three bowls of stew set beside a load of bread.