Crow rubbed his wrists. He knew he didn't feel pain as intensely as a normal person would, but the plant’s hold was really tight. He didn't do himself any favors by struggling so hard against it, either. The skin was torn slightly in several spots. Within a few seconds, faint purple mist started seeping from the wounds, piecing his body back together. It always happened, whenever he got hurt in any way. And once, it even happened when he tried to trim his beard. In the faint glow of lavender-tinted smoke, it grew right back, as bushy and unkempt as ever. He had a theory that whatever raised him, was also keeping his body in the same exact shape as the day he opened his eyes in the Red Forest for the very first time.

“Marvelous…” - Arnath murmured, watching with curiosity. - “I was ready to patch you up, but I see you've got yourself covered.”

“I’m not doing this.” - Crow replied, glancing away in embarrassment. He was feeling like a specimen on display, being studied by an unhinged scientist. - “It just happens.”

“Oh, of course. I'm sorry I assumed.” - Arnath cleared his throat. - “Please, really, have a seat. I didn't want to upset you this much.”

Crow did, finally, however gingerly. He kept himself on the very edge of the chair, ready to stand up and scram if he felt threatened again.

“You do realize that I'm not very willing to take your job offer now, whatever it is, right?” - He asked quietly, regaining some hold over his temper at last.

“Unfortunately. I have to admit, this didn't go quite like I imagined it would.”

“What did you imagine, then? That you’d say you know what I am, and I would sigh with relief, saying that I'm glad my little jig is over? I'm not! This is a matter of survival to me!” - Crow grumbled, with his arms crossed.

“I realize that.” - Said Arnath, sipping on his herbal tea. - “And yet, it was very hard to come up with a way to approach you in a sensible manner. Thus, I decided to be straightforward.”

“Why did you have to do it, anyway? If you want to help me so much, the best way to do it would be to leave me alone.”

“Oh, I'm afraid I can't do that.” - Said Arnath in a grim tone that Crow never heard from him before. - “See, if anyone in Khaede found out about your nature, it would surely be connected to me in an instant.”

“Why? Because you're a witch? Or because you're a gravedigger?”

“Both, and neither, in a way. I'm not a witch, Crow. It's just a common man's term to describe someone wiser than he is, no offense. It doesn't really mean anything specific. As I said earlier, I'm a Life Mage. And that, my friend, is very specific. Especially in connection to you. Because people like me can make plants grow wild and strong, cure diseases, heal wounds… And, if they're really powerful, make a corpse stand up from its grave and serve all of their whims. Personally, I find necromancy to be repulsive. A violation, taking advantage of the fact that the body's owner can no longer protest about anything. But I could repeat that over and over again and nobody in Khaede would listen, if they found out there's someone like you running around the village. All fingers would be pointed my way.”

“O-oh…” - Crow stopped in wonder for a moment. - “So… What you're saying is, my prolonged stay in Khaede is highly problematic for you.”

“I didn't want to put it that way… Both because I think you deserve your feelings to be considered, but also because it's not entirely true. See, a gravedigger is just one of my jobs. The one I can put up as a front to the imperial patrols. My other craft would surely get me executed. I'm a Deathspeaker. A person who takes care of wayward spirits and guides them safely into Lady Death's embrace. And you, once again, no offense, seem like the most wayward one I’ve ever met. I have a duty to fulfill towards you.”

“So you do want to help me back into the grave.” - Whispered Crow, feeling dread rising up within again.

“Not necessarily. I never do anything without the departed one’s consent. Those who don’t cross over to the Hereafter usually have a reason for doing so, even if they don’t quite realize. I help them discover the reason, and then close up their unfinished business. That’s the point at which they leave out of their own accord. But some stay… Take old man Berg, for example. Poor guy died a month ago, just a few days after his daughter found out that she’s pregnant. He wants nothing more than to see his grandchild before he leaves this world for good. And so, he remains in her house, and from time to time, she finds that the dishes have been washed even though she put no finger to it, or that the floor sweeped itself. He’s sweet and loving, so I would never send him away.” - Said Arnath with a warm smile dancing on his lips.

“That’s very considerate of you…” - The undead muttered.

“Thank you. That is the point of the craft, you know? To listen, to soothe, and to prepare for the journey ahead with kindness at every step.”

“...There’s just one thing, though. My head is empty. I don’t know why I’m here, and whoever I was before all this, I have no idea what that guy’s business was. I might as well be a completely new person, put in this husk by some divine mistake.” - Crow said with his head hung low, his gaze fixed on the table in front of him. It hurt to say that out loud for the first time.

Arnath scratched his thick, snow-white beard in thought.

“That’s… A slight problem. But it doesn’t relieve me of my responsibilities. You’re still a lost spirit. I can’t just leave you to your own devices, angry and anxious. You really do look like you need help.”

“I… I’m doing alright. Maybe I’m a little anxious, but wouldn’t you be if you had to hide an affliction like mine at all times? And I only got angry because my shadow has been riling me up since the break of dawn…” - Crow started explaining himself hastily. He was an outcast, but he was capable. Self-sufficient. And Arnath made it look like he was a child lost in the manger.

The old man just rolled his eyes.

“You’re not alright. I’ve been watching you closely. Tedrick doesn’t pay you. You only have one set of clothing and no money to buy more. You share your room with the fattest, meanest rat in the village. And people realize fully well that there’s something very wrong with you, Crow. They leave you alone not because you’re so good at hiding what you are, but because I told them to.”

“Y-you did?” - Crow whispered with his eyes widened.

“Yes. For your sake and for my own. It’s a good thing that I command some respect as Khaede’s elder, or else we would both be toast. But it’s not sustainable, not if you stay where you are. A normal person wouldn’t be able to live like you. Living people need money. For clothes like I mentioned, for medicine when they get sick, for entertainment so they don’t go crazy. You raise eyebrows, keeping on like you do right now.”

“I don’t need your pity.” - Murmured Crow, not able to look the man in the eye. - “I can handle myself. And if I’m putting you in danger, then I’ll just leave. There are still some settlements around the Red Forest that I haven’t tried.”

“Crow! No one’s talking about pity! I told you, I have a job for you. I want to help you, but I need your help as well. Look at me. I’m old, so very old. There are days when all of my joints ache at the same time. I can’t do everything on my own anymore. Digging graves isn’t easy. I usually use my plants to help with that, but when it needs to be done at a time when an imperial patrol is staying at Khaede, I’m screwed. The last time I had to do that, halfway through I was sure I was actually digging it for myself. Not to mention my work with the spirits… Sometimes I have to do the craziest shit to calm them down. It was manageable in my youth, but it’s getting harder and harder with each passing day. It’s high time I took up an assistant and you’re the perfect candidate. We can both protect each other’s secrecy this way. You won’t be a loafer or a parasite. There is no need for you to feel shame.”

Crow fell silent for a moment, weighing his options. He didn’t have to think too hard to realize that the old man was right. The arrangement was mutually beneficial. But there was one thing…

“You mentioned you’ll pay me enough that I’ll be able to buy a lute. I can’t really accept that if I’m just going to be helping you with your everyday tasks. It’s too much. I might be dead, but I have my honor. Unless… Unless you have something big coming up, and that’s why you agreed to my price.”

“Precisely.” - Arnath smiled. - “You’re a quick thinker once you calm down a little. Let me get my map and I’ll explain everything.” - He rustled through his cupboard for a moment, and finally pulled out a large scroll, unraveling it on the table. His index finger rested just a few centimeters north of Khade, on a crude pictogram representing some large building. - “Here. It’s a manor where Lord Adald Calmbank, the overseer of our land used to live. Until last summer. He died in his sleep of old age, from what I’ve gathered. But it doesn’t mean he died peacefully, really. Alone, abandoned by his family… It’s a sad way to go, one that very few departed take easily. The travelers passing through Khaede report that there is banging and wailing coming from his home. I would’ve helped him sooner, but the manor stands on a steep hill, and I need my supplies. I know my body’s limits, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to take them all there without making a few exhausting trips back and forth. And even if I did… Well, banging and wailing, need I say anything more? He’s obviously agitated. He’ll be throwing things at me, sweeping rugs from underneath my feet, the whole shebang. I need someone to carry my stuff and to provide me protection.”

“I’m in, then.” - Said Crow, with sudden confidence.

“Are you sure?” - Arnath asked, with his eyes widened. - “No more desperate convincing for me to do, really? It could be dangerous, you know?”

“I know. From the way you spoke about your “duty”, I also know that sooner or later, you’ll attempt it on your own if I don’t help you. Which kind of leaves me with no choice. Who will cover for me with the other villagers if you die on the mission? And besides… I think I do want to help the lonely dead guy get some peace. Something in the story resonates with me, believe it or not.”

“I wonder why.” - Said the Deathspeaker with a loud chuckle.