Nimrod saw Rosicky's emotions fluctuating through Warp Insight, tangled and conflicted.
"What is it?"
Hearing that, the Tech-Priest hesitated no longer. He dropped to one knee and spoke in the manner of the people of Vostonia.
"Rosicky Czech offers his loyalty to King Nimrod."
Nimrod did not accept immediately. Using the mental arts he had learned from the Data Crystal, he tried to read Rosicky's mind.
His consciousness was like an inconspicuous flying insect, spreading toward the Tech-Priest, while he threw out a difficult question to make Rosicky focus on how to answer.
"Why have you suddenly sworn loyalty to me?"
Nimrod's consciousness spread toward Rosicky. With Warp Insight, he smoothly found the door to the Tech-Priest's mind at the center of that vortex of emotion.
The Tech-Priest's mental door was slightly different from what he had expected. It was not a gate of iron-gray "steel" formed entirely from cold, metallic logic.
On its surface were vivid, multicolored desires, and a deep crimson where ambition leapt and pulsed...
After Nimrod's consciousness circled for a moment, part of it extended from the "insect's" head like a snail's feelers, probing toward the colorful region of the door.
The instant the "feelers" touched Rosicky's mental door, Nimrod noticed the Tech-Priest's brows furrow slightly.
He realized Rosicky's senses were sharper than he had imagined. Considering this was his first time reading a mind and his technique was still not practiced enough, he decided to give up trying to penetrate the mind and chose an easier area instead.
"My king, House Czech and House Finde have been close for generations. I have known Howard for a long time. He often praised you and asked me to offer you my loyalty together with him."
Nimrod's consciousness withdrew from Rosicky's mind and spread toward the Tech-Priest's brain.