No matter what, Broken Fang was dead.
Annan issued four orders in one breath: inform the Tartun Empire, pressure the Orr Empire, and clear Broken Fang's name.
And have Henry come over.
Even the coldhearted Swaro was outraged by the Orr Empire's cruelty and volunteered to go there himself.
Francois, the foreign minister, was in the Land of Eternal Night. When Evelyn arrived, Annan recounted Broken Fang's ordeal again. He put her in charge of both applying pressure and clearing Broken Fang's name, telling her to emphasize the hardship Broken Fang had endured escorting the boy and the tragedy of his death.
"Abby, go to the tavern and bring Luoxi and the Bard here," Annan told Abby, who was hiding outside the door, too afraid to come in.
The Bard knew more, and he might even be able to help.
But Abby had barely left when Luoxi hurried back, his face anxious. "Lord Annan, the Bard's gone!"
"What do you mean, gone?"
"He played a tune, and everyone in the tavern fell under his spell... By the time they woke up, he was gone."
Annan frowned and walked to the window. "Lilith!"
Before long, the Mage Tower projected the image of a beautiful young woman through the window.
"Was there a surge of magic in the city just now?" Annan asked her.
"A Teleportation Portal opened in your room just now," Lilith said.
"Not that. Near the tavern."
"No."
So it wasn't a spell? Then how had he knocked everyone in the tavern unconscious at once, including the Spellcasters?
The Bard's identity was a mystery, but he probably meant no harm.
"That's all..."
As Lilith's projection faded, Annan looked away.
Luoxi stared at the bodies of Broken Fang and the boy. "The story... was true?"
"Yes."
"The Orr Empire?"
"Yes."