Annan followed Olin back to the Knights' Order. When he saw her aide outside the Office, he remembered something. "Oh, your deputy was right. Someone else was behind Pulle Hernandez, but that person wasn't an enemy."
Annan recounted what had happened with Governor Borgant and how Pulle Hernandez had needlessly complicated matters. Then he looked at the aide. "How about letting me have him?"
"You won't manage it."
Annan didn't believe that. If the deputy head of the Judgment Hall hadn't interfered, he would have coaxed that priest Gandhi into confessing every embarrassing thing he'd done as a child.
"Lord Annan, I've already sworn loyalty to Commander Olin," the aide said with a wry smile.
"What a shame. In Free City, you'd be a Deputy Commander at least. You could lead troops to the Northern Frontier to hunt demons and kill rats."
Annan couldn't poach him, but he didn't mind dangling a little bait.
"Uh..." The aide stole a glance at Olin.
"He's misleading you. Whether there's a war in the North is up to the Chaos Empire," Olin said calmly.
"As if your Knights' Order would get a say either way?"
Olin fell silent and merely looked at Annan, as if to ask: Do you still want to save Blackwatch?
Annan shrugged. "Every other road's been blocked. Looks like there's only one left..."
"Old Ancestor, what should I do if someone bullies me out there?"
In the Garden, Annan diligently massaged the Old Ancestor's shoulders.
"Who dares bully my little Annan?" The Old Ancestor looked like someone whose favorite grandson had been wronged and who would take his side before asking who was at fault.
"The Judgment Hall..."
"They're loyal only to the Empire. Why would they bully you?"
"You know I came here to save Blackwatch, but