Chapter 26Darke and Tirec stared up at the Ervrin Mallos. Both seemed distressed, but it was Tirec who spoke first.
‘As we’ve moved further from home, communities seem to have grown more primitive, more ignorant, superstitious,’ he said, though his voice contained no judgement. ‘I thought this just more of the same, but it isn’t, is it?’
Darke did not reply for some time. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said eventually. ‘I’m finding it hard to accept what I’m feeling.’
‘You think it’s Him, don’t you?’ Tirec forced the words out.
Darke closed his eyes and tightened his mouth, then he nodded slowly. ‘I fear it’s something to do with Him, certainly.’
‘No,’ Tirec said. ‘Face it squarely, like you’ve always taught me. You think it’s Him, returned.’
‘Too hasty a judgement,’ Darke said, too quickly. ‘We we
