Ember ventured, "Why do the novices at the door speak in ignorance, knowing only rumors and lies?"
Vobod spoke. "Though the threat seems extreme, we have determined that the novitiates and those below the rank of instructor should remain ignorant, lest they be moved to fear or unwise acts that would compromise our own investigation."
"Sister Ember," said Cestra, "even now, most of the surviving elders are looking into this matter, attempting to root out those who would do us harm. So, too, are our most trusted instructors. We anticipate soon putting this terrible event behind us."
Ember said, "I don't think you understand the magnitude of the threat that faces us. Volanth chapter was wiped out to the last! I am the only survivor. See? I wear Loku's Bracers, relics of the founder of our chapter. There is no other to wear them now. But there is more; on the road between Volanth, we were assaulted by a new nest of these Nerull cultists. They seem to be everywhere!"
Elder Cestra paused, looked at Vobod, and said, "Nerull cultists? Is this something new?"
Vobod nodded quickly, saying, "Yes, yes, we knew this. Some who oppose us give allegiance to that old god. Forgive me Cestra, if I do not keep you appraised of every latest development. It is a minor detail. More important are the events of this morning: We discovered and destroyed their last stronghold here in New Koratia."
Ember gasped. "Their last? But why did some old cult wish us harm in the first place? What are we to them?"
Cestra turned back to Ember and said, "Elder Vobod is in charge of the Enabled Hand's response to the threat. He leads with the other elders in this matter. I was chosen as the lone elder to keep the Motherhouse running in the meantime." She smiled, turning to face Vobod again. "But, Elder Vobod, please speak on. Sister Ember has endured much and deserves to know the whole story."
"Very well," Vobod responded. "Apparently a cleric of Nerull called Sosfane was behind the plot to destroy the Enabled Hand, Sosfane led a group of disaffected monks from the south, who are known to walk paths of evil. But Sosfane was slain in her putrid lair below New Koratia this very morning, as well as all those who followed her. I am only now waiting for confirmation from Elder Breshimon, who leads in the field. With Sosfane dead, our order is once again assured of peace. It was she who masterminded the entire threat. It only remains to mop up scattered bits and pieces of the enemy and conclude the investigation."
Cestra, looking from Vobod to Ember, said, "So now you know. Everything will soon be right again."
Ember felt dumbfounded. After all she had seen and the days she spent on the road to bring warning to the Enabled Hand, she was finding it difficult to accept that everything had already been taken care of.
She said, "Elders, surely there is more to this-what did this Sosfane have against us? Was she crazed, or was she acting for some deeper purpose?"
Vobod shook his head. "Who can say why? She is dead now, so we cannot know the truth from her lips. Our investigation will, of course, reveal her motivation in time. Please allow me to contribute in some way to the final eradication of these monsters."
"I'm afraid there is nothing for you to do. We understand your desire to be useful in this effort, but we cannot manufacture a threat from nothing. The matter is already resolved."
Cestra offered, "You are welcome to stay on the grounds as long as you like. When your grief is assuaged, you can remain here at the Motherhouse if you like. Perhaps you would care to teach for a while? We always welcome sa bum nim."
Ember wiped her forehead and said, "No, thank you Elder Cestra. At least, let me think on it. Really, all I want is to talk to my old friend Kairoth. Elder Kairoth, I mean. Is he involved in the effort against the cultists?"
Elder Cestra looked distressed.
Elder Vobod sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Ember. Kairoth was one of the first slain by the enemy. It was his sacrifice that alerted us to the enemy's true nature. It was a terrible loss for all of us; we still grieve."
"Slain? But when?"
"He was taken from us some four weeks past. Elder Vobod, here, found his body," said Cestra.
Vobod nodded. "A harder blow I've never felt. Kairoth was one of my dearest friends. And it was on the Day of Fasting, too, Kairoth's favorite yearly festival. He will be remembered always," vowed the elder.
"But…" stammered Ember. Something was wrong. Her last letter from Kairoth was clearly dated three days after the Day of Fasting. Ember nearly flushed-she almost betrayed her reaction.
She nearly called Elder Vobod a liar.
In the end, she held her tongue. Something was very, very wrong. Until she knew who to trust, Ember decided it would be best to remain silent.
A sharp rap on the door roused Hennet from meditation. He looked at Nebin, who was deep in a dusty tome, penning notes in the margin with an inked quill. The gnome had purchased the volume on their way back from the Duel Arcane preliminaries. Both he and Nebin had qualified, despite Nebin nearly disqualifying himself. After the preliminaries, he and the gnome secured lodging at the Cuttlestone Inn.
Hennet sighed; Nebin wasn't going to get the door. The sorcerer stood, arranged his cape, and answered. It was Ember and the dwarf, Brek Gorunn.
Is she here to see me? wondered Hennet.
He stood unspeaking for a moment, tongue-tied, before he managed to say, "Come in. How did your visit to the Motherhouse go?"
"Seemed to go well," Said Brek Gorunn. The dwarf looked at the monk. "To me, at least."
He had the air of someone who knew more than he said.
Ember entered and clasped hands with Hennet, then said, "I apologize for interrupting your afternoon, but besides Brek Gorunn I don't know anyone else I can trust in New Koratia, except for you two."
Nebin closed his book at this declaration, curious to hear more.
"Us two?" repeated Hennet. "What about the Motherhouse? Surely the Enabled Hand is trustworthy."
"Something strange is going on there. With your indulgence, I'd like to tell you."
Hennet said, "Of course!"
He saw the gnome hide a smirk behind his book, but he didn't care. If Ember wanted to tell him a story, he wouldn't deny her.
Ember spoke, telling of the visit to the Motherhouse. She related how the elders assured her that the threat to the order was eliminated, though she could scarcely credit the news. She further explained how her old friend, Kairoth, was lost to that same threat, on the Day of Fasting.
"So," continued Ember, "I have a difficult time explaining this. I didn't show the letter to the elders, or even mention it; caution warned me against revealing my knowledge."
Everyone clustered close around Ember as she opened her satchel and extracted a leather parchment sleeve, of the variety used by couriers to send messages overland.
She said, "I received this letter from Kairoth after the Day of Fasting. And look-" She pointed to the wax seal on the leather sleeve. The seal was broken, but the date pressed into the wax could still be read. "See the date? This letter was sent three days after the Day of Fasting, but according to Elder Vobod, he found Kairoth's body on the Day of Fasting. Kairoth isn't dead, or wasn't, yet the elders lied about it."
Hennet felt a surge of excitement over the mystery and treachery revealed by the date on the letter. He loved puzzles; of course, never before had he dealt with a puzzle that involved murder.
"If they lied about this, what else did they lie to me about?" concluded Ember.
Nebin shrugged and said, "You know your own order better than we. Perhaps a simple mistake is to blame?"
Hennet, seeing Nebin's tack, said, "Or perhaps the message is incorrectly dated?"
Brek Gorunn cleared his throat, then said, "Could it be that, denied your vengeance against those who destroyed Volanth chapter, your mind seeks enemies in the shadows where there are none?"