Blackfeather Woods In the middle with the beggars and rejects

The boy's words brought unexpected tears to her eyes, a brief glimmer that she blinked away quickly. Not that she cared if he noticed. . .but it wouldn't do, here. She was the teacher and he the pupil; they were engaged in something far greater than her grief. Something far greater than either of them.

I. . .don't know, actually, Maegi responded, shifting a little awkwardly. I'm afraid I don't know as much about Sithis as I do about Peryite. (Or thought she knew, at least.) I know he looks after—no, he is the Void, and the Void is Sithis, and that's where souls go after death. So I guess. . .

She lifted her chin, giving Rowan an inquisitive look. What do you think? she asked. What does your own intuition tell you? He was a bright child, sensitive to the spirits here. She knew Sithis would give him the answer one way or another.