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Miri’s starstruck moment was shattered by the grating voice of Deskelon.  “I see you’ve brought your…retinue, just as we instructed. Good.” The half-elf bit her tongue lightly to keep from grimacing that he’d address her lady that way.

Before Lady Sivallien could respond, loud footsteps rang out throughout the chamber. Miryala looked to see a group of four women walking past her. She recognized their leader, a portly human woman in Red and Black robes. That was the Grand Exarch, the most powerful religious leader in the city. She had personally engineered House Sivallien’s poor fortunes on more than a few occasions. In fact, Lady Sivallien would have considered her a rival if she could claim to be her equal in power, wealth, or status, which she was not. The others seemed to be her attendants.

“She arrives,” Muxijiko’s voice intoned with an eerie sibilance, although she was facing away from the scene.

“Welcome, your excellency. We thank you for your timely response.”

“Well, when the council calls, we all listen, from the Grand Exarch of Illuminora to the lowliest of us.” Her eyes fell on Sivallien and her entourage as she enunciated the end of her sentence.

Miryala was getting quite angry for her liege, but a stern glance from Lady Sivallien showed that she was aware, but demanded her silence.