The wrath of the gods is terrible to behold, or at least I imagine this to be the case. An enemy can break your body, but the gods can break your soul.


    The Book of Lost Wisdom, Kalutu


    Seventeenth of Learning 1142


    You are my sword when I need you to be, my justice when there is no other choice, but above all, you will be my voice during the hard times to come. As you have already experienced, it will be difficult. You may refuse, if you wish.


    He raised a sword against you, after previously attacking you. Which of your subjects would deny you the right to defend yourself?


    And what do you think holds more weight, being your citizen or being my servant? Your law or my judgment? If I were a witness against someone, what defense do you think they could offer to counter that. Citizens of Twyl have rights, because humans can get it wrong. You have to figure things out. You aren’t present at the scene of most murders. Witnesses don’t remember things correctly sometimes. Human justice depends on determining someone’s innocence or guilt.


    If a human commits a murder, I don’t have to try him to know that he has done so, because I was there. I am a witness with perfect recall. I know the motives of those involved. I know if a being intentionally killed another or if it was an accident.


    In your kingdom, in your court, you may do as you please, but those tried in my court don’t have the same rights, because there is nothing they can say that I do not already know. I am the goddess of honor. Sometimes, honor makes demands of us that are uncomfortable. Are you my servant first, or the king of Twyl?


    Most of the time, you can. But there will be times when you will have to choose.


    I wish I could reassure you, dear Terrence, but I fear there will be more days like this. You must remember that this was a victory. You were in time to save Lord Ormund’s soul. He will be different, but he will heal, and that’s thanks to you.


    Of course you would have. You always know where your subjects are. It’s one of your skills.


    My sister Iorana will want to examine it. What happened to Captain Jericho is not something I can easily explain. Somehow he was compromised and that shouldn’t be possible. He was under another’s influence.


    I don’t think so.


    She was not telling you about the armies of the Undead King, she was telling me. My sister and I haven’t spoken directly for a long time, but she has ways of letting me know what she wants me to.


    Oh, she definitely was. But I doubt she believed you could be turned. It is simply her way to try. Sarith may be reprehensible, but she has no love for the Undead King, of that I am certain.


    Sarith has spies in many places. It may even be that she has spies in Xarinos. But if she were truly allied with the Undead King, she would not reveal the existence of his hidden armies.


    My sister never lies. Whatever is happening in Xarinos, she chose to share that information for a reason. We can surmise she didn’t do it out of any sense of duty. She wants something. But that is my problem, not yours. You have a kingdom to run.