"Let them wander at will." The noble informed his captain.
The garrison was making place for those newcomers to enjoy the warmth of their fire. Even with the drizzle that had the flames hiss and lash out they still preferred it there than inside.
Only Joan made her way in.
The darkness, the cold, the wetness reminded her of deeper caves dug by the mountains, their cliffs and waterfalls. That nostalgia was poison to her heart.
She was going to wait until most were asleep to work some more on Brenin.
But when those outside finally surged in, tired and wet, to huddle in the different floors, that spread was not with them.
He had asked Grisval to accompany him for a short walk, to return to the carriage with just one torch for two.
Corentin put his hand on her shoulder.
"You've not fled yet?" He mocked. "Do you intend to sleep with all those men?"
"Where is your bed?"
"The highest floor will do. Anything to escape the stench."
"Let us head there."
He stepped back, weighed her from head to toe, which made her remove the gray mantle she had been wearing all along.
But in the low lights of the last torches that human could not see much of her.
"Let's."
He motioned for her to go first, so she stepped on the ladder, climbed up and up again, and up once more until she heard the steps of the one lookout just above them.
With twice as many men and one whole floor reserved for their noble, the guards had to pack as best they could with the remaining space below. Their tools, their food, their games and makeshift beds had been laid around in a mess.
But in the darkness she lay herself, curled up and closed her eyes.
Spirit walk.
Corentin just behind her was still watching her body even as the dog jumped back down. He had removed his tabard, did the same for his tunic that he threw at her feet.
But for his chemise he stopped, considered her silhouette in the dark and decided to just lie down near her.
She had rushed after the two men who had reached the carriage.
"What is it you want?" Grisval asked.
"Give me your dagger."
"I hope you are kidding."
"Just for this night. If I go wild I want a way to..."
"If you go wild..."
"... stop myself..."
"... she will end..."
"... from harming anyone."
"... your life herself."
They looked at each other, then Brenin had a brief laugh. But he still wanted the dagger and the hunter still refused.
What madman would disarm himself in presence of monsters.
"You would trust her over me?"
"The bear has been coy about you, but I asked around. You forced the Pivert to seal their latrines at night, you devil."
The joke only angered Brenin.
"And what is it to you, hunter? The Pivert are shielding beasts, don't tell me you approve that."
"Brenin, I am many things but not heartless. Cormoran needs the bear, any bear."
It made him go silent in turn. Grisval was holding the torch so his face was of the two the only one visible. But the curse let him see it better, that sharp beard and those falcon eyes.
"Any bear other than the Pivert."
"Can't it wait?"
"No! No it can't! This might be the only chance I get, and if you don't arm me then that curse will! I will slip it and turn right above that fiend..."
"And slaughter the whole tower? Do you think she will let you?"
"Screw that devil! By the time she puts me down the kid will be in pieces! My only regret will be to have only got to one of them!"
"What about Maud?"
They froze, they looked around but not even Brenin could see Joan who, sit at their feet, had interrupted them.
Her body slept, so the spirit free had raised her voice.
"Turn and meet the knight." She ordered Brenin. "Find who he is, what he wants and what he knows about me."
"Are you kidding me," Grisval almost laughed, "she is a ghost now!"
And the woodcutter: "And why would I do that?!"
"Would you rather let the curse rest before we reach the village?"
Again Grisval laughed.
"So this is what you two are doing when you are alone."
"Drop it, pal. She sent me, as a beast, in the hamlet I grew up. Had I lapsed even once... But I suppose that to a hunter this sounds like a good joke."
"Call me a fool" he answered with the same serious tone "but she is more afraid of you slipping than us. Isn't that right, Joan? If you are sincere about not harming others, you should do as she says."
"On whose side are you?"
"I serve the saintess. Also, I am only a man, so excuse me but I need to sleep."
He turned away, left with the torch, soon a feeble light in the dark night.
Left behind Brenin groaned. He could see in that obscurity, but not that well, especially as a human. Still, he too departed, but for the forest where he distinguished the horse.
He could not tell the silver dog following him close.
She would only go so far. In truth if he lapsed there was little she could do, but let him or tread on forbidden territory. And contrary to the hunter's words, her faith in that human wasn't so broad as to make her certain.
This time, for a minute or two, she would not be there to restrain him.
"Are you really asleep?"
The spirit dog stopped. In the tower, Corentin had whispered those words, more to himself. Her body was so close to him that he should have felt her breath. Was it her being so still or just his own worries but the noble was still awake.
His hand wandered above in direction of the ceiling.
"When we found you in the woods, we were like kids. It had felt like we had found the saintess reborn."
There was a sigh, then a silence.
She watched Brenin still walking as a human, long past the road. He was rubbing his arms even though the night was still fairly warm.
"We were such fools."
And the twin turned to reach for the body's silver hair that, even in the dark, still remained visible, akin to the thin threads of a spiderweb.
He was letting those hair flow in his hand.
"This is the only night we will share." He kept muttering, his voice so soft. "Tomorrow I'll be married and you will be gone. And you will never have told me your true name."
"Joan."
Her hand had moved to hold his.
Corentin was so startled that he almost got up but her touch wasn't as firm as he expected and she had kept her beastly eyes close.
"I am Joan of Cormoran." She muttered for him. "I walked on coal to stay by your side, I will prove myself as many times as it takes until you accept that I am Joan of Cormoran."
She pulled his hand toward her.
He pulled back, turned around and groaned.
"You are tired. Go to sleep."
No, she thought, no don't stop. Pay attention to me, keep looking at me, keep rubbing my fur. No, she promised herself, I will kill until you see no one but me, human.