Shite, he thinks furiously, he hadn't realised Hythlodaeus had been awake then. He knows he has done a poor job concealing how poorly he has been sleeping of late, but he never thought Hythlodaeus would think of following him out.

It falls to him to think of a believable excuse. One that will explain his absence for the next few nights until his hunt is done.

"I..."

He is not the best at coming up with outright lies either however. He can't lie; it goes against his own rigid principles. What's more, to lie to his closest friend and life partner, of all people...

"You have heard of these sickening murders to have recently graced Camelot's streets, yes?" He clenches his fists to stop his hands shaking, glad for the cloak which hides them. "I had thought to try to investigate. Where there are bodies there ought to be spirits of the restless dead about."