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either discussion or action before the assembly when begging a question.”
    Wejon’s smile dimmed even as his eyes brightened.
    â€œOur brother Kyori holds the attention of this forum still and . . .”
    â€œThen I would urge this forum,” Wejon’s voice cut across the hall, “to reject my brother’s suggestion that the great members of the Modalis should concern themselves with a matter that has already been resolved!”
    Sjei’s eyes narrowed. The Myrdin-dai must be very sure of themselves if Wejon thinks he can interrupt the Sinechai of the Modalis. You’re getting careless, Sjei thought. It will cost you dearly.
    â€œI beg a question!”
    Sjei turned toward the high, nasal voice two seats to his left.
    â€œYour question, Brother Liau?” Sjei said, turning away from Wejon. Liau Nyenjei was the Director of the Ministry of Thought and, ironically, rather slow-witted on his own but his timing was impeccable.
    â€œUnlike our brother,” Liau tossed a sneering nod in the direction of Wejon, “I actually do have a question. Is there any evidence of what actually happened out in the Provinces? All due respect to our brother and the incomparable thoroughness of the Iblisi, the failure of Aether Wells over such a wide area as we have come to understand warrants more consideration than vague and simple assurances from our brother Myrdin-dai . . .”
    Wejon jumped to his feet, his black eyes flashing in the column of light striking down from above. “Does our brother insult me thus? Am I to endure this outrage without the satisfaction of his blood?”
    Liau did not move from his chair but only turned his head slightly in the direction of Wejon. “No matter how strong the wind, the stars remain fixed. Blow all you like, Wejon, but it is unbiased confirmation that we lack.”
    Wejon reached for the handle of his sword.
    â€œIf the assembly will indulge me . . . I have evidence to present in the matter.”
    Sjei turned his solid-black eyes languorously toward Ch’dak Vaijan. He was the Imperial Emissary from the Ministry of Law—a middle-level position, but his family’s influence was beyond reproach. He was the one member of the Modalis that everyone in the forum knew to be beyond influence.
    He was the first elf Sjei had learned to manipulate.
    â€œWill Kyori yield the forum for evidence?” Sjei asked the elder Occuran who was still standing, waiting to present the rest of his motion.
    â€œFor evidence,” Kyori said carefully.
    Sjei nodded then turned back to Ch’dak. “The forum is yielded to Ch’dak Vaijan for evidence.”
    â€œWhat is the nature of this so-called ‘evidence’?” Wejon hissed through his bared, sharpened teeth.
    Ch’dak stood and stepped into the light in the center of the forum. “The best evidence. I have a witness.”
    â€œA witness?” Wejon mocked. “What witness could you possibly present?”
    â€œOne who was there at the very heart of what happened,” Ch’dak continued. He lifted his hand, gesturing to the guardians at either side of the forum doors. “One who can tell us who is responsible for what we believe to be the worst disaster to befall our Empire in over a hundred years. One who comes to warn us of even greater disasters to be visited upon our Empire unless we act quickly and decisively. One who can tell us the truth of who is responsible . . . and help us to know what must be done to stop them. Hear her now!”
    The doors at the end of the hall opened and a thin elven figure with a bowed head walked into the forum. It was a female elf, young by the look of her build, but her face was careworn. She lifted her head as she stopped in the center of the circle of light.
    â€œI am Tsi-Shebin, daughter of Sha-Timuran of the fallen House of Timuran,” the young girl said, her voice clear and her black eyes shining in the light.