They walked on in silence for three minutes as his second mulled over the words. It’s not easy to realise how much war has taken from you.

“So that’s why—(Clara ran into you),” Murphy asked, when he decided to return to the subject at hand.

“She ran into me?” Marc confirmed. “That’s my theory.”

“Why did you invite her?”

“To throw her off, and for now it appears to have worked,” Marc began. “Besides we both know that a young woman like that would never dare get so close to the front lines…”

“Why doesn’t my faith affect you?” Murphy asked.

Marc looked at the Warrant for a second while his jaw muscles pulsated. However, the man of war did not respond, waiting for the answer to come out naturally.

“…right,” Murphy said.

“I’ll say this, no man who started life as a soldier will ever become Pope.”

“Hunters are creatures of faith,” Marc began. “Like clergy, monks, and sisters. Our kind reacts to faith, but older ones like me can counter our instincts.”

“You mean holding a cross works?”

Marc chuckled, as that was one piece of disinformation they loved to perpetuate.

“The cross is nothing per se,” Marc replied. “Sanctified items are more of a concern, as is holy water. We react more to the faithful than the trinkets they carry.”

“Why doesn’t my faith affect you?” Murphy asked.

“Don’t let their ages fool you,” Marc said. “Either one could handily best you in combat.”

Marc could see the doubt in his eyes, but the Warrant also knew to trust his judgement. Especially when it comes to the supernatural.

“You think they know?” Murphy asked.

“They suspected, given the lateness of the hour. Still, I think I passed their test.”

“What was that about?” Murphy asked.

“Remember when I spoke about hunters?” Marc asked.

“Can’t be,” Murphy replied. “They’re practically children.”

“Don’t let their ages fool you,” Marc said. “Either one could handily best you in combat.”

“What was that about?” Murphy asked.

A very poignant question, one that could not be answered there and then. They can’t hear me after three hundred paces.

He flashed one index finger until he made up the distance and crossed the road just to make sure. Marc wanted to confirm visually they were alone and answered because there were few hearts beating faintly.