To celebrate Free City gaining its first Greyfur Rat—a true Ratfolk by Ratfolk standards—Annan held a small family gathering at the Restaurant.
While Annan's side enjoyed a warm evening that felt like one big family, the Ratfolk Elder had it rough. He and the Council elders behind him worked themselves ragged, trying every way they could to learn why the old priest had gone to the Far North.
The one thing that let him breathe a little easier was that the old priest had come for neither him nor the Annan Thing. Something in the Far North had drawn the priest there.
The High Priest had simply used his cooperation with Annan as an opportunity to travel there with the Rodent Clan.
The Ratfolk Elder hurried to tell the Annan Thing the "good news." Looking at the bloodshot veins in his eyes, Annan wanted to say, Maria, Gale, and I had a wonderfully cozy family gathering last night. Guess who wasn't invited?
"Ratfolk Elder, I've always thought you were a clever rat. You'd rank among the top three in the Stuen Clan..."
The Ratfolk Elder kept a straight face, but he felt a little flattered. Praise from an outstanding Human Thing like Annan meant something.
But a sentence like that usually came with a "but."
"But..." Annan gave him a look that said he was far too young. "You actually believed that?"
The Ratfolk Elder froze.
"What could possibly make the High Priest risk going to the demons' lair in person and meeting them face-to-face? Isn't he afraid they might turn on him?"
The Ratfolk Elder badly wanted to say the demons were less likely to hurt the High Priest than Annan was. He didn't dare, though, for fear of giving Annan ideas.
Of the two of them, Annan looked