He shrugs. 

"Not like I've never taken a risk."

Tholassi goes in a pocket, so that when he starts breathing again he'll be hidden and warm. 

He doesn't reach out for Ashka's hand no matter how much he would like to. 

Ashka doesn't reach out for his either.

"I am going to come up with some new commandments," Tholassi says crossly. "I have clearly overlooked some important issues. Thou Shalt Not Torture Small Animals. Thou Shalt Not Stick Knives In The Hearts Of Salamanders, that's a good one. Thou Shalt Check Thoroughly Whether A Salamander Is In Fact Thy God And If It Is Thou Shalt Help It Get To Where It Is Going And Not Crush Its Chest Even A Little Bit."

Sataro thinks it might be hard to check whether a salamander is your God and not sticking knives in the hearts of salamanders is a little bit specific to be generally useful but 'thou shalt not torture small animals' seems solid. 

"Well, if he believed, I could talk to him."

--Shit.

What. 

What. 

"--New commandments," Tholassi says hastily. "I clearly did not plan ahead for the possibility that I might be stuck as a salamander and let me tell you as soon as I'm not stuck as a salamander anymore new arrangements are going to be made."

No go back what is this about Dhavilot not believing. 

Tholassi nervously flicks his tail. "Uh. There may have been some. Uh. Problems. --Which I am sure are all related to demonic activity and as soon as we get to Tarev and figure out what is going on it will all be sorted out."

Sataro could say a lot of things about Deacon Dhavilot but 'prone to falling under the influence of demons' really does not seem like one of them. 

Tail-lash. It is hard to lash your tail in a pocket but Tholassi really does not want to be outside a pocket right now.

"Well. As far as I can tell, uh, and probably this is due to demonic activity or something and not actually the actual situation because that would be absurd but, uh, the only person in all of Tholassia who actually believes in me is, in fact, um. You."

That — 

That can't be right because Kirasu exists — but if it is — 

"Look, I did not choose this," Tholassi says. "I would much rather have had Kirasu as my one believer. I am not exactly a fan of having my life depend on the continued existence of a single suicidal soldier who keeps skipping meals-- do you know what all of that starvation has done to your heart because let me tell you it is not pretty--"

He isn't suicidal and never has been but honestly right now he kind of wants to throw up — fasting as penance was Tholassi's idea — 

"No, that one was you guys."

He doesn't have time to process any of this before they reach the Pit. 

"Sataro! I wasn't expecting you."

There are flecks of blood on his clothes.

"Neither was I," and he's smiling, friendly, normal. "I'm just here to watch, today." 

"All right," he says. "We still have a couple more demon-worshippers to get to confess before they burn. They're so stubborn."

Tholassi pokes his head out of his pocket and looks around.

Tholassi being visible to people seems like maybe not the best idea! "I imagine," he tells Kirasu instead of that, and finds an out of the way place to stand, and keeps his face carefully neutral. 

Kirasu returns to his work!

He is efficient and businesslike and morally untroubled. 

It has been long-recognized among practitioners of magic that the form you take changes your thoughts. If you become a horse, you will appreciate the joy of running; if you become a frog, flies will suddenly seem appealing; if you become a human, you have to watch yourself carefully, lest you forget all your goals and spend all your time playing social games more-or-less related to them.

Tholassi has generally presented as a pillar of flame or a person made out of fire or a solar disc, none of which affect your thoughts particularly much. But now he is a salamander, an animal that is preyed upon, and he is having salamander thoughts. 

Like, "that really, really looks like it hurts."

And "I didn't like it when my heart was crushed and I don't think they like it either."

And "the looks on the inquisitors' faces are terrifying. The ones that enjoy it are bad enough. The ones that don't are worse."

An inquisitor, ignoring the cries of the man he's working on, whistles a cheerful tune.

Two inquisitors, just getting off work, walk by Sataro. He can catch a snatch of conversation. It appears to be about how one's daughter is doing very poorly in school, and he loves her and wants her to do better, and he's worried about giving her the message that she needs to succeed while also telling her that of course she is unconditionally loved.

(A little girl, who seems to be about the same age, cries out.)