~4.27~

“So, what is this problem worthy of the name?” Marley asked Ivan. “What is it that requires so much attention?”

“Tribe was attacked,” Ivan said.

“So I heard.”

“Did you see anything?”

“From what I heard, nobody did,” Marley said. “A lot of people are even saying the whole thing was overblown, that a few people went missing and it’s not a big deal.”

“It was not overblown,” Ivan said. “We lost a tenth of our citizens, a tenth of our strength, in one night. Those who are most… aware… tell of an invisible beast, binding forces, and terror. Others have managed to convince themselves they spent an uncomfortable night out on the cold ground, surrounded by wind and noise and bad dreams. I cannot afford to live in that sort of denial. We have been attacked, and I must answer that.”

“How?”

“That I do not know yet,” Ivan said. “I thought that perhaps you might have had a different perception of the attacks, coming from a different vantage point.”

“Sorry, my vantage point for the night was actually in the lounge of a nice business travelers’ hotel, in front of a roaring gas fire,” Marley said. “I couldn’t tell you what I’d have seen if I’d been outside. Is that all you wanted? To find out what I saw?”

“No, as I said, I have a task for you,” Ivan said. “But it seems prudent to leave no stone unturned, especially given the difficulty in reaching you.”

“What do you want, then?”

“I need you to keep a watch on the head of western intelligence,” Ivan said.

“On Wow? Why?”

“There was a single common thread in the groups that were attacked,” Ivan said. “They all had minor magic-workers with them: witches, shamans, magicians. None of the greater witches aligned with tribe reported any attacks.”

“So naturally you suspect them.”

“I find it logical that if they weren’t involved, then they will be targets. By covering her, we cover both possibilities.”