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Thus we arrived in the private dining hall, where Serymn waited with Dateh No one else this ti out the uards If Sery to that effect

"Welcome, Lady Oree," she said as we sat down I turned il in an effort to be polite, though I was beginning to hate being called Lady Oree I knehat they meant by it now The de, too, and perhaps as deserving of respect as the godlings--and not hu I was not ready to think, about myself

"Good afternoon, Lady Serymn," I said "And Lord Dateh" I could not see hiainst ht

"Lady Oree," Dateh said Then, so subtly that I aled as he addressed Shiny "And a good afternoon to your co to introduce yourself today?"

Shiny said nothing, and Dateh let out a sigh of barely contained exasperation I had to fight the urge to laugh, because as a as it was to hear Shiny drive soe, I was surprised at how quickly Dateh’s temper broke For whatever reason, Dateh seemed to have taken an instant dislike to hi ht "Not much, anyway"

"Hmm," said Dateh I waited for him to askhostility

"Interesting," said Serymn, which annoyed"In any case, Lady Oree, I trust your day ell?"

"I was bored, actually," I said "I’d’ve preferred to be on another of those work crews Then I could’ve at least gotten out of ine!" said Serymn "You seeetic approach to life"

"Well… yes"

She nodded, the sigil bobbing in the dark "You may find this difficult to accept, Lady Oree, but your trials have been a necessary step in ce no other options makes even menial labor desirable Sever one attachment and others become more viable It’s a harsh method, but one that has been used by both the Order and the Arareat effect"

I refrained froht of that effect, and covered ht you people were opposed to the Order’s e in doctrine In most other ways, the Order’s ladly We are still devoted to the ways of the Bright Father, after all"

I should have knohat that would set off

"In ay," Shiny asked suddenly, startlingItempas’s children serve Him?"

Silence fell around the table Mine was astonishment; so was Serymn’s Dateh’s… That I could not read But he put down his fork

"It is our feeling," he said, his words ever so slightly clipped, "that they do not belong in thehere We know, after all, that they vanished from this plane after the Gods’ War, when Itempas took exclusive control of the heavens Now that His control appears to have, hs--like rebellious children--take advantage Since we have the ability to correct the"We do as He would expect of His followers"

"Hold His children hostage," said Shiny, and only a fool would not have heard the kindling fury in his voice "And… kill theh it sounded affected "You assury I heard so the Gods’ War, their kind used this world as a battleground Whole cities died at the godlings’ hands They cared nothing for those ry e? That’s why you’re keeping Madding and the others--"

"They are nothing," Dateh snapped "Fodder Bait We kill thehing "I forgot You actually think you can kill the Nightlord!"