* * *
Cade
* * *

How did I end up here?

I don't really remember, to tell truths. There was the charging of horses behind me, there was the feeling of being lifted. I was being sneaky, and no one's been able to detect me. How could I have been seen?

Betrayed, by the one luring me in, then.

Really? Is that possible? Then again, who knows what's possible? I'm kneeling before some person enthroned right now. Some huge person, some huge... thing. I try to lift my head to see it more clearly, but someone's got their fingers dug deep into my hair, scratching the scalp itself. I can't look up.

There's a pool of water around the throne, though. A very simple throne - just a chair, really. My tribe elder has fancier. It's red, like the water. Blood?

* * *
Kevrin
* * *

Landing is a bit of an issue with Djardrik this time around. He keeps screaming.

"We're gonna die! We're gonna die!!!" He seems to have it in his head that landing in the Armed Hall is a dangerous thing. I don't know what gives him that idea - it's a well-defended compound with lots of allies inside of it. "Kevrek, we're gonna be surrounded by Armed if we land down there!" He holds onto me for dear life. Unfortunately, his grip is around my throat. After a bit of gagging, I manage to dislodge him.

"Djardrik! Please, calm down! Everything will be fine!" I try to keep control of the bird. I'm perfectly used to this place, but the poor thing's used to rural areas, not cities. "I know some guys here!"

"The guys with the p-p-pointy weapons?" Djardrik's shaking so hard that he's about to fall off of the bird.

"YES!" I say with exasperation. "Why else would I come here?"

* * *
Elete
* * *

This is admittedly difficult for me. I probably shouldn't be here. I should be at rest in my quarters, especially after participating in the ceremony to restore the Treaty. But here I am in my usual place in the observation seats overlooking the Trial, dodging glares from the Jhe o'Radia. Really, I should be ashamed of myself, but he hasn't ordered me to bedrest yet and 'Sy hasn't bothered to back his own orders that I rest with any real power.

It's only my body that's tired now. My mind is clear and alert. I feel better between the ears than I have in quite some time. Possibly better than I have since Ivae died. That's something I try not to think back on, but they say it all comes back to you right before you die.

* * *
Katherine
* * *

Patrick's memories glide over my mind. As grisly as they were, the sensation is as smooth as silk and of little consequence to me. I feel Camden's arms tense up. My world wobbles a little, and I become accustomed again to being the baby in his arms.

This baby thing is weird. Always has been, always will be, if it happens again. I guess I can count on that sort of thing.

* * *
Cade
* * *

Drums. I hear the drumbeats from this dark place. I'm huddled on the ground, my arms around my head. I don't think I can move anymore. I've run too much. All I can taste is my heart in my throat, pulsing so fast that my breath can't keep up with it. I'm dizzy, and sweating, and I think there's vomit on me. My muscles feel like they've been pounded with clubs. My days usually go pretty well in the Dheaghnn'on Tribe, so this is all very new to me. What happened? I'm too stunned to remember. I remember voices, but only as if they're being shouted from far down a cave. No, those aren't memories. They're from the present. The voices are getting closer, fading from muffled garble into something coherent, something louder, until I hear them, finally, clear as day. That's when the door opens into my enclosure. Weird, dull orange light floods in.

* * *
Cade
* * *

I walk, hands bound by chains that lead to the collar round my neck, my pace egged on by the occasional bladepoke to the back. One of the Armed fancies himself a bit of the Judge, I suppose, because the one guarding me and spurring me on to march forward carries a pike as his Arms. Certainly not a trident, but it is pretty damn sharp.

* * *
Cade
* * *

I ignore the weepy head-case in the special padded cell down the hall. He's making enough ruckus to keep anyone distracted from me, bless his crazy buzzard brain. Not much of anyone notices me. Not when I don't want them to. And my master, he's calling me home now. I feel the pull, feel him beckoning. All should be forgiven. I've kept my sad skin alive long enough to serve another day, after all. Who should care if I've fraternized with the Radians? Let the Peacekeeper and the Advocate think I'm turning tattle on my master. I'm the only one who can be Nul's Herald, and it looks like that hasn't gone forgotten.

* * *
Cade
* * *

I'm incredibly talkative today, as if the words are being pulled from me, one by one out of my throat. That's the Poet Camdhegn's fault, of course. He's remarkably apt at calmly grilling someone. I know I'm bespelled by the craft, and what's worse is that I'm so calm about it. So passive. My defenses are down, mostly because so many of my defenses draw from Nul's power, and I can't really call upon that right now, can I? So I'm stuck.

And what's odd about that is that I'm not worried about it at all. Another thing to blame on the Poet, I suspect. His scrawling on that notepad can't just be my words being recorded. Never give a Poet paper, not if you want the upper hand. As if I have a choice here. And I would prefer, on the whole, to have a choice in this. This is my life I'm talking about, after all.

Regardless of what I even remember about it today, I'd prefer all of it to remain secret.

* * *
Camden
* * *

"Aye, so are ye going to get up for a nice chat, or am I going to have to shake you out of bed, Jhe Fayegeaux?" I've already drawn Geillg'a. Cade is, in fact, studying her links very closely.

He grins up at me, those teeth flashing like a dog's. "I see no reason not to engage in healthy conversation. Come on in, Camdhegn. It's a treat, living in a cell with a real bed and no roaches. Might as well share the joy."

I shake my head. "No, but thank you for offering so kindly." I kick a stool out in front of Cade's cell, then take a seat, already tugging out a pad of paper from one of my pockets. It should come in handy. Talking to Cade is in itself a difficulty - he's so closely claimed by Nul that it's hard to make out his features, and often difficult to pin down his words. Behind the wards here, it's a bit easier, but I still prefer to have my tools to hand.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

It's not often that I enter my office to find that someone is inspecting my crockery with such intense scrutiny. At least, someone who isn't Jhe h'Logos. The slender blonde looks up at me with an arched eyebrow that implies I am intruding on her. I raise an eyebrow myself, recognizing the features of Ebrellin-i's daughter. While I've no explanation for her presence in my office just yet, I decide that the proper thing to do is bow as I would in Court.

Her dour composure splits into a grin, and she curtseys in return. "My word, it does please me that someone from this realm observes proper decorum. Rocsui Xaillyndesse d'Audiva Rocale, if you please." She extends her hand in greeting. I take it in turn, bow over it enough to be polite, and release it.