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.The berserker wore his beadwork regalia, and the half-elf had a sneer for each of his rivals.Almost as soon as everyone had found a seat, they all had to stand up again as masked witches filed out of the longhouse.They were not alone.Ghostly telthors flew, padded, bounded, scurried, or crawled along with them.In that first moment, Jhesrhi made out a hawk, a vulture, two bears, a squirrel, an otter, and a snake.Many of the creatures flickered, visible one instant and gone the next.None left any tracks in the snow.Their profusion reminded Jhesri that Rashemen was filled with nature spirits.A number of the smaller familiars accompanied their mistresses to their seats on the benches.The others looked down on the assembled humans from the top of the amphitheater, or perched on the limbs of nearby trees.One hathran had no phantom companion that Jhesrhi could see.Clad in a simple leather mask and brown hooded robe, she remained standing at the bottom of the amphitheater, and, when she was ready, slashed a bluewood wand through an intricate figure.Nothing overt happened as a result.Maybe it was simply a way of asking the gods to bless the gathering, for a hathran’s arts were a mixture of the priestly and the arcane.It was a disorderly hodgepodge to Jhesrhi’s way of thinking, but maybe she wasn’t giving the barbarians enough credit.“Be seated,” said the witch.She had a cold contralto voice that carried well.“Many of you know me, but not all.I’m Yhelbruna.With the help of Vandar Cherlinka, I brought the griffons down from the mountains.I’m also the one who cast the runes and determined that it isn’t necessarily the will of the spirits that this living treasure remain in Rashemen, disappointing and bewildering as that seemed.Word of the beasts’ existence, the news that drew Aglarondans, Theskians, and sellswords here, went out at my behest.“At times,” she continued, an unexpected wry note entering her voice, “I regretted that action, for you travelers began to arrive, and, to my embarrassment and the Iron Lord’s, I still had no clear idea of the spirits’ plan for the griffons.But in light of recent events, and after prayer and meditation, I do now.”Aoth leaned forward.Cera took his hand and gave it a squeeze.Bez called, “Who gets the animals, then? Don’t keep us in suspense.”Although their masks, voluminous garments, and air of aloof dignity made it difficult to be certain, Jhesrhi had the feeling that some of the hathrans were taken aback that he’d had the temerity to speak without permission.Yhelbruna, however, answered without any show of resentment.“I have no wish to keep you in suspense, Captain, and I promise I’ll give you an answer soon enough,” she said.“But there are things you need to hear first in order to understand it.”Aoth snorted.Leaning toward Cera, and Jhesrhi on the other side of her, he whispered, “Someday a matter will be simple and straightforward again, and we’ll realize we’ve forgotten how to react.”“For about a year,” Yhelbruna continued, “the undead have been troubling Rashemen.This, of course, is scarcely a unique occurrence.Our land is rich in magic and old as well.In ages past, it was home to folk who trafficked with dark powers.It’s the kind of place where the dead are going to wake and walk from time to time.“Still, of late, there’s simply been too much of it.The ghosts and revenants have been too powerful, and too intent on doing harm for harm’s sake.”Dulsaer shook his head.“Aren’t they always ‘intent on doing harm for harm’s sake?’ ” he said.“Actually, no,” said Aoth, “not always.Although they may have vile hungers to satisfy, and an innate viciousness that prompts them to attack anyone they happen to encounter.But I get the feeling High Lady Yhelbruna is talking about more than that.”The hathran nodded.“I am,” she said.“On our journey into the High Country, Vandar and I encountered an undead hag and some zombie goblins going to considerable trouble to break a Raumathari demon trap, for no discernible reason other than malice.There have been a number of similar incidents, including the recent outrage in the sacred grove, which was probably the most flagrant example of all.”Dai Shan cocked his head and placed his rather delicate-looking hands together, fingertip to fingertip.“How so, wise priestess?” he asked.“In the last century,” Yhelbruna said, “we Wychlaran had a falling out among ourselves.Some of our sisters, who came to be called the durthans, turned to commerce with wicked spirits and the fey, and formed their own secret sorority in our midst.And when we started to unmask them, they fled to strongholds in the wilderness, where they plotted to seize the control of the realm.When the opportunity presented itself—as it did when our foes the Thayans started fighting among themselves—we had no choice but to stamp them out.”Dulsaer nodded.“I’ve heard something about this ‘Witch War of Rashemen,’ ” he said.“Indeed,” said Yhelbruna, although with a hint of distaste in her tone, as if she found the name vulgar.“And I’m bringing it up because we’ve identified the creatures who attacked the grove.”Apparently restless, a transparent jay with a streaked crown fluttered up from a copper-masked hathran’s shoulder.A misty adder coiled in its mistress’s lap lifted its wedge-shaped head to track the other telthor’s flight.“I take it,” Vandar said, “that they were durthans when they were alive.”“Yes,” Yhelbruna answered.“A formidable coven that caused a great deal of misery working from a lair in the Erech Forest.When we finally found them, killed them, and buried them, we took considerable pains to ensure that they wouldn’t rise again.”Jhesrhi made a little spitting sound.“Incompetents,” she whispered.“They should have burned the corpses.”Or at least she thought she had whispered.But to her surprise and embarrassment, Yhelbruna replied to her.“You’re right,” said the witch
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