In calamity the true fortitude and character of a woman had been tested, but for all those who survived by exploit and wit and resolve, there were more who survived by circumstance. Pale in the shadows of Aloisa, Danae and Corinne there were four who were slow to speak, who followed the confidence of another's action, who would be tested in the trials yet to come.<br/><br/>One was a slight woman, still in her bedclothes from the upset at sea, who was quick to abandon the<em>Mercy's </em>rough confines and flock to the sound of polite conversation.<br/>"Positively thrilled to make your acquaintance. I am Zoe Lambert," she introduced herself to Faelyn, and to Aloisa, for the two had scarcely shared pleasantries on the storm-tossed sea.<br/>"You must speak to Corinne, who has studied the mists with an analytical mind. The mists preceded the sudden squall, I remember it, as did the buck moon. Camille-"<br/>A barrier arose suddenly in Zoe's train of thought, and grim realization settled on her narrow face. "Camille called it a witching moon. But we ought to look to reason, in times such as this. I mean to accompany the caravan to that high manor, and join the company of civilized folk."<br/><br/>The second had a critical eye for Faelyn and Medb. There was a flash in her blue eyes settling on the steel adorning Faelyn's hips, and she listened attentively, though her gaze was drawn back to the<em>Mercy </em>from whence she'd been ejected, and her heart pulled many ways. Reluctantly, she spoke.<br/>"My name is Sage Laporte. Alas, I have no intention of leaving my best means of escape to go traipsing through wilderness in my scanties. I will leave you to this errand and remain with the ship. It was not I who roused the captain's anger, after all, and the Laporte name carries weight in gold in Dementlieu. It has been a pleasure, ladies. When we find land again, I will send a ship for you."<br/><br/>"We study birds," the soft voice of a third ventured timid into Medb's conversation. "In the White Egg Ornithological Society, we study birds. We traveled to Markovia to catalog many new species for the Society's journals."<br/>Michelle toyed with the bow at the throat of her insufficient camisole, young eyes catatonic to the world breezing by on whistling wind.<br/>"Truth told it was more of a pleasure trip. Could it be, are we now punished for our sins? I am not a spiritual woman, but they say Ezra works through the mists."<br/><br/>The fourth was the only of them to retain her clothes, a low-slung walking dress which had weathered poorly the shipwreck and tattered down steady legs like wilting flower shedding petals.<br/>"It's good to meet fellows of sound mind," she said to Medb. "You may call me Margaret, and I volunteer my hands for this undertaking Lady Vine-Lott suggests. The pastoral country breeds a resourceful stock of citizen. We learn to trap, to hunt, to erect shelter. As well, one learns a feel for people. We ought not rely overmuch on the kindness of that Doctor Rehner woman."