Flesh, Blood, Soul

"Let's go take a look too."

On the shore, Priest Augustus suddenly said in a low voice. Sister Devlin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well."

"But how are we supposed to get over there?"

Iluna asked quietly. They could not touch the surface of the water. The old priest smiled and pointed to one side.

"With this."

There was, unexpectedly, a battered Small Wooden Boat stranded on the shallows, looking as though it would sink the moment it entered the water. It lay quietly in the shadows beyond the reach of the bonfire, as if it had always been there.

But Iluna was certain that the boat had not existed before Shade's battle with Joey Barton ended.

"What is that?"

She was quite surprised. Seeing Priest Augustus trying to push the boat into the water, she reached out to help.

"The Moon defeated Death."

The priest spoke with effort as he pushed the boat toward the water. Sister Devlin immediately seemed thoughtful.

"You mean that, within Death, the Moon defeated Death head-on?"

"Yes."

The priest nodded. Together with Iluna, he exerted himself, and the little boat slipped silently into the water.

"Sorry, I still don't understand what that means."

Iluna said quietly. The priest gestured for her to carry Joey Barton's corpse onto the boat as well, then continued explaining.

"Among the Thirteen Old Gods, there are overlapping divine authorities."

"Yes, I know that."

"Most of the authority over Death is held by the Ancient God of Death."

"Yes."

Iluna nodded again, dragging the corpse onto the boat. Priest Augustus and Sister Devlin boarded in turn. Without any source of power, the Small Wooden Boat swayed through the dense white figures and sailed toward Shade in the distance.

The priest took out his pipe and drew on it.