[meanwhile, back with Fandir and commandant at the tavern]
Klaus's stories have attracted the interest of a small number of tavern patrons, several of whom have offered to buy him drinks, before asking him questions about his high-born family and his exciting adventures. No one is interested in gambling though, despite Klaus's offers. Mortus watches with amusement.
It's starting to get dark outside, and there is still no sign of the sewer expedition's return. Four men enter the tavern that Mortus recognizes - it's the watch sergeant and his patrol who rescued her from the angry crowd earlier. The sergeant, now dressed in civilian clothing, sees her and raises his hand in greeting, before going to the bar to spend the money she gave him.
As the evening goes on, the street outside the window seems to take on an unearthly look. A thick fog is gathering, lit by unusually bright moonlight. Mortus goes to the window and looks up into the sky - as she thought, Morrslieb, the witch moon, is full tonight. But it should be a crescent at the moment. Something is wrong: the witch moon responds to unnatural forces, and a departure from the usual cycle is a strong indication of trouble. The other moon, Mannslieb, is nowhere to be seen.
"Looking at the moon, are ya," a blond man with a thin beard says, "funny, I heard a madman on Gottenplatz ranting about the moon this morning. He said the face of the moon would show the fate of the town, or some such rubbish. It don't look like nothing but a bright rock to me."
