Aside from changing bandages and lazy conversations around the nightly fire, little delay was made before they reached the next settlement in two day's time. Heavily bribed by secret treats when Donovan wasn’t looking, the dappled black stallion that had carried a sleeping Lee now carried him again, comfortable and finally adjusted to the higher energy of his temporary rider. Gliding in to Donovan’s side as the distant hovels grew close, Lee stroked the horse's neck as he crooned.

"Good ol' Magnus, you don't miss that sourpuss of a prince, do you? No sir, no sir, who needs a no good merciless tyrant like that in charge anyways?"

Magnus only flickered his pointed ears back for his name, continuing the amble forward as Don rolled his eyes. Lee was happy to oblige with a translation, nevertheless.

"You tell him, Magnus, tell him how cruel he is...Huh? Why of course we can ride off into the sunset, just say the word and we'll leave his sorry arse behind!"

"Oh for gods' sake, it was just tea you dramatic ninny!"

Lee gasped, moving to 'cover' Magnus' ears,"The brute resorts to name calling!"

"You called me an ass first!"

"Arse, your highness," Lee paused his melodrama to correct,"completely different."

"I think I may honestly have you executed," Donovan glowered.

"Not if my wits kill you first," Lee jibbed, worn rural buildings closing in on either side of the beaten main road. Unlike the previous quaint border town they had stayed in, there wasn't anything of consequence to be seen. Aside from a hurried child splashing by through the muddy road without so much as a glance to the strangers, not another soul was seen.

Casual annoyance traded for subtle caution, Donovan scanned the shuttered windows of the leaning homes. The scarcest hint of a shadow played behind slats of wood, but without any willing to acknowledge the hovel's guests, they were left to wander. A crossroad of well trodden muck marked the center of the town, sucking onto the horse's hooves as they took each sinking step.

"Don't like this," Lee mumbled, tugging back on Magnus' reigns to steer clear of a opaque puddle. Donovan made a noise to acknowledge him, but said nothing nonetheless.

It took little time for them to traverse the entire town, only a small cluster of stores and homes making up a central settlement before scattering to farmhouses barely visible on distant hills. Unsatisfied with their observations thusfar, Donovan swung his mare around to consider his options.

"They have a sanctuary back towards the west," Lee suggested, "perhaps a clergyman could answer some questions."

Allowing his horse to pace uneasily in the fickle mud, Don took a second before prodding her forward,"Lead the way."

The Cosima sanctuary was as beaten down as the rest of the town. While curved carvings made meager attempts to distinguish the entrance as a place of worship, only a belfry truly set it apart from the rest of the buildings. Promising tracks of mud were dried on the front steps. With their horse tethered on the driest dirt they could find nearby, the two men made their way inside.

Large wooden beams held up a hollow ceiling, scarcely lit by the torches below. Rows upon rows of simple prayer mats circled around the center of the room, a dial of ten segments carved and painted into the floor. At its center, a single decorative pillow seated a withered man adorned in generous plum vestments that pooled around him. Eyes shut in a meditative state, his head bowed lightly to a segment of the circle.

Lee opened his mouth as though to speak, but thought better of it. Soundless words on the clergyman's lips, Lee watched as he touched his forehead to a carving of a waning crescent - the moon of the goddess of decay. Not a breath was made to disturb the worship, long, strange minutes passing as they observed as misplaced bystanders. When at last the Cosimist elder pressed his palms to his chest to conclude his devotion, an unheard sigh of relief left their stiff lungs.

A pair of light eyes lifted to greet them,"Welcome, your highness. The gods have graced me with your arrival."

Donovan tilted his head in a slight bow, matching in conduct,"As yours mine. A face is a rare find in this town."

The clergyman rose from his knees, robes cascading around his form. Stepping carefully over the lines of the dial, he spoke over his shoulder in a tepid tone.

"So it is. It will be this way for some time."

Lee approached the man's back and watched as he poured clean water into a brass bowl, then wine into another. A quick blessing, and he turned around with both bowls in hand as Lee spoke.

"Elder, what's happened to this town?"

Placing the bowl of water upon the moon of decay, the man gave him a sad look,"A blight. A poison of the body and mind, a punishment from the goddess for our transgressions."

Crossing the circle to the opposite side, he placed the bowl of wine on a carving of a waxing crescent - the moon of growth. Lee began to fidget in place.

"What transgressions, Elder?" Donovan said in his wake.

The Elder sighed,"Anin has seen incredible prosperity these last years, too much for it to last. The people have grown comfortable as they were coddled by the blessing of growth. So now, the means have arrived to settle it."

Lee bit his tongue, allowing Donovan to instead speak their part, "Can you describe this illness?"

The clergyman paused, then untucked his hands from his sleeves, "See for yourself."

Raising his lip to reveal his gums, black skin bloomed like molded spots on bread. Clearing his throat, his voice rasped,"I didn't used to sound so old. I'm afraid my time is running out."

A grim expression fell upon their faces, and Donovan's voice lowered as he spoke,"How did this begin?"

His hands folded back into his sleeves, the elder wore a pained face,"I cannot answer that question for you. I suggest you ask the lord of this town, though you may have trouble finding audience."

"Would he turn away his country's prince?" Lee scoffed.

"He's turned away the world, at this point," he waved a sleeve in a general direction,"you may find his manor to the north, just over the first hill. Is there anything else I can do for you, your highness?"

Donovan placed a grateful hand on his shoulder,"Get better, rest well."

A wry smile,"I'll have you in my prayers, your highness. May the goddess look kindly upon you."

"To you, as well."