"The living component," Calder said. "The Church didn't rebuild the Shroud with better anchors. They rebuilt it around something they found — something they didn't create and don't fully control but have learned to direct." The blacksmith's face was expressionless but the voice carried something careful in it. "They call it the Pale Warden. I call it the reason I can no longer leave my tower."
"What is it?" Maren said.
A pause.
"Ancient," Calder said. "Pre-System. The Church found it in the northern mountains forty years ago — a creature that had been dormant for longer than anyone could date. They spent thirty years learning to contain it. Then they spent eleven years learning to use it." Another pause. "When I destroyed the four-anchor Shroud the first time, the Pale Warden woke up. When I attempted the twelve-anchor version — it was waiting for me."
The village square was very quiet.
"What does it do?" Kael asked.
