Continued from S3-5-11: A Duke's Gratitude. “But, my lord Duke, you were seen in the company of a Melnibonean just days before the assault on the Abbey of the Cleansing Flame,” Administrator Velon whined, nearly hiding in the shadow of the ancient Chancellor Helforth whom he could not wait to replace, “and now you issue a proclamation banning the Inquisition from Hrolmar on pain of death… You must see how this looks!” “No… Just how does it look?” Avan demanded with enough rage to send the mousey priest of Law recoiling further into his superior’s shadow. Then he scanned through the faces of the merchant lords, nobles and bureaucrats that had come to challenge him at Velon’s instigation. “Are these so called Knights of the Cleansing Flame sanctioned by the Church of Law?” he demanded of Velon or Helforth. “Well, no,” the aged Chancellor replied after a long moment of searching his failing memory, while Velon simply stared at the floor. “Are they sanctioned by the crown?” Avan demanded of the room. But got only barely audible negative mutterings in reply, as the rest seemed to suddenly share Velon’s interest in the stonework beneath their feet. “Then on whose authority do these fanatics terrorize Vilmir?” he challenged them all as he rose to loom over them. “No ones!” he answered himself after a long pause. “So why shouldn’t I ban them from tormenting my lands and my people?” Again, no one dared to answer the Duke, and a few even muttered agreements with his logic. But they all knew what had prompted his proclamation, and she stood by the right hand of his seat of office as he settled back down into it. Accounts of the Inquisition’s kidnapping of Nadjana, along with an Ilmioran adventuress, had spread through the city like wildfire in the Duke’s absence. Just as the tales that he had taken a Melnibonean aboard his ship to pursue them. Nadjana smirked down at the assembly from her place at Avan’s right hand. Even with the strength of numbers, these Vilmirian sheep couldn’t muster the courage to mount a real challenge to her Duke. She had been both surprised and proud when he issued the proclamation upon their return. Although she knew that it would strengthen public suspicion that she held more influence over him then their professional relationship would merit, she also knew that his actions were not just motivated by her ordeal, but by the honest desire to protect his people from the unchecked reign of terror the so called Knights had pursued against all Vilmirians. Avan glanced up at Nadjana as the assemblage of would be challengers to his proclamation shuffled out. He had been concerned that the Inquisition’s torment and abuse had forever wounded her fiery spirit. But, by the time they returned to Old Hrolmar, after the several days that it had taken to see Nykira, Rynard and Syn to Kariss, she had seemed to be the same indomitable woman she had always been; much to his relief and joy. He knew that tongues would wag about her influence on him, but then they did already… and he did not care! To be continued in Book Six: Kariss Burning. The final installment in the fifth book of my Stormbringer characters' adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appreciated!