The beasts in this terrible vast place are not kind enough to make any one of their psychological attacks less than poignant, Erik believes, and so the idea that this is just a girl does not even enter his mind. It's not his Anya screaming this time—for which he is immensely grateful, however selfish that is—so she must belong to someone.

Now that the creature has been rendered immobile, Erik collects himself into a less aggressive stance and gives his hair a little flip back from his forehead, his respirator emitting tinny, panting breaths. He looks to Lucius first, sees no evidence of recognition at a glance, and so moves on to Tadhg...