Quoted By:
<span class="mu-g"><span class="mu-s">“Ո՞րն է սրա իմաստը։”</span></span> There is a tinge of <span class="mu-s">power</span> in the new voice, stopping everyone in their tracks.
The Aeltin amulet around your neck even hums softly, confirming that some degree of sorcerous compulsion just occurred. Such a display by a sanctioned mage on fellow humans back home would likely see them on the pyre. You’d hate to think that you’ve been exposed to enough foul sorcery to recognise particular flavours of the art, but there was something about the sensation that reminded you of the Fae sorceress.
You knew that the Medusae were each sorceress’ in their own right, so you are able to restrain yourself from immediately drawing your sword in full. Most of the new arrivals are women adorned in the black, purple and gold that you have come to recognise as the symbol of office of the Medusae Caste. The speaker, the one who dared used sorcerous compulsion without so much as a by-your-leave, has their face concealed behind a majestic golden mask that resembles that of a stylised long-beaked bird.
<span class="mu-i">“This is the Exalted Heron, a leader of the Medusae Caste inner circle.”</span> Antoninus speaks hurriedly and hushedly, forced to summarise where he is unable to keep up with verbatim translations. <span class="mu-i">“She does not yet address you, but demands to know what is going on from the Merchanta present. It is not quite an accusation, it is said that such a thing is not typically done in the Palace games.”</span>
<span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-g">“Exalted Heron, you are ever the delight for our eyes.”</span></span> The more serious Merchanta High Caste’s words are as flowery and flattering as the language of his mercantile peers, but his serious expression has barely softened even a fraction. <span class="mu-g"><span class="mu-i">“Daily this humble servant of our Master curses that his wares of the finests silks are as coarse as sandpaper to your supple skin.”</span></span>
At Barak Yildirm’s side it is hard to tell whether Arap Bata’s glowering is meant to convey indignant bluster, irate nerves or a mixture of both. But he holds his tongue, letting the more consummate player of these Cathagi Palace games do the talking. From what Antoninus says, Madam Heron is set on exposing the Merchanta's overreach on their presumed privileges in the Palace for what it is. Master Yildirm, for his part, seems to be deflecting the subtle accusations as best he can but it is hard to play down what was occuring here in the face of this many witnesses to his colleauge's indiscretion.
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