i learned the voices died with me

Caiaphas viewed Meldresi's formal lack of education on the subject of her birth-name as a great tragedy -- and for the briefest of moments, felt something akin to sympathy for this painted woman. The world had a strange way of spinning the lives of its occupants -- and many fell subject to its ironies and coincidences.

"That is a shame. I would have liked to know it." She said flatly, brushing off that it was truly a shame for Meldresi, not her -- as it was, Caiaphas stood to lose nothing with the dying of Meldresi's heritage. "Is your pack big, Meldresi?" She suddenly asked, delivering the dark witch a solemn gaze. They were not so close, Ankyra and Blackfeather Wood, that they would compete this winter -- but Caiaphas had to be sure.