The first useful thing Simon learned was that the question spoken through the Murmur Bone had never been literal.
When the seventh road drowned, which of the Second Claw's fingers remained above the blood?
The correct response was...
None. The Second Claw never walked the seventh road.
It was a question built around an event that had never happened. Anyone who guessed a finger, number, or name exposed themselves immediately.
Simon stored the answer in his mind.
The vice-leader also confirmed that the three lines beneath the torn-banner symbol represented the Third Eastern Warden's level of authority. A Warden with three lines could command ordinary nests inside his assigned region, verify emergency orders, and request limited support from nearby cells.
He could not command another Warden or overrule a Claw.
