Talion could glimpse the ghost approach the mouth of the well, and say something that he couldn't catch--but to judge how painful the syllables he could hear were, maybe that was for the best. A few seconds later, a green glow began to emerge, as if something luminous was rising from below. But that was when the ghost's attention was drawn to the shout from outside. It wasn't hard to see where it was coming from, given the beacon of light that had erupted from a bare tree, centered on a woman. Though not tremendously bright, it was shockingly bright in the drab, dull surroundings of the shadowland.<br/><br/>For a short time, the challenge went unanswered, the chipped and eroded door remaining shut. But then the ghost spoke from within, as the doors creaked open.<br/><br/>"Why are you here? Why do you interfere with a holy ceremony? Bad enough that the Drowned Queen must sully herself with the company of those yet living as she blesses them with the Mark of Passing, but now a bringer of false hopes comes to--"<br/><br/>He emerged, and stopped abruptly on seeing Kisara's glowing form. His sonorous tone sounded uncertain.<br/><br/>"You again? No--you are not the same woman. How many of you are there?"<br/><br/>Behind him, a sickly green glow was visible from inside the building, growing slowly brighter through the ajar door.