The Grand Lord on the platform, the lords flanking him, the crowd gathered in a vast semicircle, and the cavalry at its edges all turned toward the applause. As the crowd parted, it revealed a black-haired boy so beautiful it was hard to look away.
He clapped slowly, smiling. "Well said. If I didn't know the truth, I might almost have believed you."
Grand Lord Raymond stared at him and spoke in a low voice:
"Annan Reeves. You dare show your face in my territory?"
Raymond's tone made the Flatterer Lord, who had been about to shriek "Seize him!" shrink back into the crowd.
"I told you we'd meet again."
Annan swept his gaze around, then asked a question he already knew the answer to. "You say you're Lady's Spokesperson? Then why, at a moment this important, isn't a single priest or nun from the Wealth Church here?"
Raymond's eyes narrowed. "I sent them on a mission."
"And your sons? Elvis and Kilian? Did they go on a mission too? Or are they never coming back...?"
In truth, Annan didn't know what had happened either. Grand Lord Raymond had covered his tracks well. The Ratfolk had discovered only that every priest of the Wealth Church had vanished, and that Raymond had been involved.
His sudden claim to be Lady of Wealth's spokesperson was certainly suspicious.
Grand Lord Raymond gave no answer. He pointed at Annan and growled like rolling thunder, "Seize him!"
The fanatical believers fixed their eyes on Annan, while soldiers shoved through the crowd and rushed at him.
Captain Reyne and his companions drew their weapons and formed a protective ring around Annan.
Annan merely raised his head and looked toward the western sky.
*Why isn't Free City here yet? If I summon the Blue Dragons first, they'll