The doors to the audience hall stood open. The two Hgirh standing to either side of them did not even acknowledge two more Isyar entering the hall. Jorvanultumn had watched at least three dozen go through those doors. It was going to be packed in there.


    Word had spread in the last two days—word that the human, Meleng Drago’s kidnapper were Isyar. And not just any Isyar—Isyar who were part of a group of Darkness Worshippers, something that, as far as most understood, did not exist. Even worse, two of those Darkness Worshippers were on the Lamdritta. There were a lot of people in Chithishtheny very angry at their Lamdritta.


    Jorvanultumn did not blame them. He was pretty angry himself. He did partially understand, though, why the Lamdritta had not wanted anyone to know about this. It absolutely was causing chaos. But it was a chaos Chithishtheny needed to endure.


    Me? How is this my fault?


    Jorvanultumn held up his hands as she got close to him. “Please tell me what’s going on?”


    Fevionawishtensen stopped and took a couple deep breaths before responding. She is insufferable sometimes.


    Fevionawishtensen sighed and lowered her face into her hand. She slumped over slightly, then looked up at Jorvanultumn with sorrowful eyes. Nascanmat and the elementalist are dead.


    We found them a couple hours ago.


    We don’t know for sure, but mentalism magic was used. It looks like they just...stopped. Like someone got their minds to just stop their heart beating.


    She looked at him askance and signed agitatedly, They’re dead, aren’t they?


    Pundritta were up to. No wonder Mikranasta was angry.


    Yes, it is. Mikranasta’s right. They were under my jurisdiction. They were my responsibility.


    It doesn’t matter. I failed. My diare is going to kill me.


    Oh, you’ll be with me. He’ll be here soon.


    He arrived last night. And he almost certainly already knows about the deaths.


    I wouldn’t have thought even Paydamat was that powerful, but I don’t know. Maybe.


    siare.” Something was very wrong. Before the battle, Jorvanultumn had thought it had all been a little too simple, a little too convenient. But finding Nascanmat standing by Meleng had convinced him. Yet, as he thought back now, Nascanmat had been terrified, but had it been terror of being caught? Or had it been the terror of being falsely accused? He claimed not to know how he had gotten there. Could that be true? Could someone have mind-controlled him just as they had Itra? And then they killed Nascanmat and the other one to stop anyone finding out Nascanmat was not involved. And perhaps Paydamat’s disappearance was not because she had fled, but because she was dead too.


    I’d better get inside. Are you coming?


    It turned out she was just in time to avoid her diare, as Abatorwishtensen, flanked by two other Hgirh, came into view down the corridor just as Jorvanultumn turned to face that way. He was broad-figured, but with Abatorwishtensen, it was more than just his wings. He was broad-shouldered as well, muscular, and somewhat tall—not a giant, but taller than typical for a male Isyar, at least a couple inches over five feet.


    not look intimidated.


    Hgirh snapped to attention beside him. He held out his left hand. “Jorvanultumn.”


    Hgirham Abatorwishtensen. I hope you are well.”


    Lamdritta. Kidnapping. Murders. Very disturbing indeed.” He waved his swagger stick in Jorvanultumn’s direction. “Your name seems to be in the middle of a lot of it, too, though mostly on the positive side of it all, at least. It seems we may even have you to thank for coming through this at all. Well done.”This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    elispt. Your Lamdritta may have absolved you, but it will still bring complications. Many will not be happy with you. It is good you are leaving again, soon.”


    Hgirham.”


    Hgirh falling into line with him.


    Hgirh keeping the other people back.


    Eli?spt!” erupted from within the crowd, but they fell silent at stern looks from the Hgirh.


    I am translating for you, Mikranasta said telepathically. Jorvanultumn assumed she was sending it to both him and Sinit?a, and possibly others. How else did you expect to give a speech they can understand?


    If you wish to speak to me, do so mentally, Mikranasta said.


    Mentally? I don’t understand how does one do that I don’t know how to do that I just want to talk and give my speech what do you mean mentally… A sensation of rapidly changing blobs of colour accompanied Sinit?a’s thoughts, a new colour with every word, some colours Jorvanultumn was not even certain he recognised. Indeed, the colours seemed to be the words. How was that possible?


    People think in different ways, Jorvanultumn, Mikranasta said. Sinit?a, focus on the words you want to say. Pretend you’re about to speak them, but stop just short of saying them out loud.


    Okay, I’ll try I’m not good I wish Meleng was here I’m trying he would know what to do he’s not sure I’m real what if he thinks I’m fake and hates me am I doing this right?


    I’ve removed you from mental contact with her, Mikranasta said. She needs time to get used to this. At the moment, she’s sending literally every thought she has.


    Thank you, Jorvanultumn said.


    The crowd erupted in yells and jeers. Abatorwishtensen and the Hgirh yelled for quiet, and Griholbovroh slammed his cane into the floor of his perch. The crowd took longer to quieten this time, and even as they were finally falling silent, someone yelled, “Why should we trust anything you two have to say?” And the crowd erupted again.


    Someone shoved Jorvanultumn. “Eli?spt!”


    Jorvanultumn resisted the urge to turn around and see who had done it.


    “That’s better,” Abatorwishtensen said, his voice returning to a normal volume. “Your Lamdritta has promised you an opportunity to speak, and you will get it, but only when called upon and in an orderly manner. Lamdirh Maramintorin, I believe you were speaking.”


    “Thank you, Hgirham Abatorwishtensen.” Maramintorin rose from his seat and stood at the edge of his perch. “As it happens, I would like to take this opportunity to answer the question of why you should continue to trust us. It is true that some unfortunate things have happened in the last few days, and that there were two active Darkness Worshippers on the Lamdritta. For this, we must accept the blame of not recognising what they were, but I would also remind you all that, until a few days ago, we—and I include both the Lamdritta and all of you in that—did not even know this Pundritta existed or that it was possible for an Isyar to worship the Lord of Darkness.”


    Maramintorin went on for a while to much growing dissatisfaction from the crowd. When he finished, the Hgirh again had to calm the crowd.