"Dunling hasn't been in good shape since the Church tightened its noose," Villen said, strolling alongside Kraft between the salt-pillar-like tombstones. "When most deaths are discovered, the first to be notified are the deceased's relatives, and the second is the Church. If they have no relatives, the Church moves to the top of the list."
"People of standing are buried in church cemeteries. Even ordinary cemeteries have gravediggers employed by the Church to patrol them and ensure there are no sacrilegious grave robberies involving the theft of the dead's burial goods."
"I'm curious how you get your 'research subjects.'" Kraft cut off his Spiritual Senses and stopped by the nearest tombstone, leaning on it to steady himself.
Villen, his companion from Dunling, rubbed his fingertips together meaningfully. "There are no research subjects. At least, no one has ever admitted to having any. All our findings come from studying the great works of our predecessors and observing the surface of the body. There are no research subjects."
"Of course, there's also no such thing as paying off a gravedigger with eight silver coins for tea money to invite a 'person' to the Academy. Sometimes, when the Heavenly Father's faithful come to visit, they happen to find a grave robber fleeing in a panic after being discovered, leaving a corpse nearby. That's perfectly reasonable, too."
"Perfectly reasonable."
"I'm glad you agree. We've long been troubled by our inability to reach an understanding with the Inquisition. Things have been especially difficult lately."
"Mutual understanding is always difficult. Let's go see the Academy's instruments instead." It was still early, the perfect time to press on and look for more information before too much time passed and the other man realized his motives were impure.
That was easy enough. Villen gestured, "This way," and without