Prodominus. Now, there was a name Maya had heard before. The oldest member of the Council was simultaneously a legend and a joke, famed for his youthful exploits and ridiculed for his devotion to an impossible cause. Alone of the twelve Kyriliarchs, he stood apart from both Pragmatics and Dogmatics, instead declaring himself a Revivalist. This group insisted that some of the Chosen were still in hiding somewhere, and the real purpose of the Twilight Order was to cleanse the world of the Plague so they could return to power. In the early days of the Order they had been powerful, but the Revivalists had dwindled as the centuries passed, until they consisted of only Prodominus and a handful of oddballs.

She bowed to him as well, as respectfully as she knew how. “It’s an honor, Kyriliarch. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

“That I’m a senile old fool who wastes Order gold on pointless quests, no doubt.” Prodominus grinned hugely under his beard. “No need for flattery, Agathios. My taste for it has worn thin.”

Nicomidi muttered something that sounded like, “Not thin enough.” If Prodominus heard, he didn’t comment. Baselanthus cleared his throat.

“As you know,” he said, “with Centarch Jaedia urgently needed elsewhere, the Council has agreed that you will be given an independent assignment. This is somewhat irregular at such short notice, but we have reviewed your records”—his eyes flicked to Nicomidi, and he frowned briefly—“and we believe you are ready.”

“Thank you, Kyriliarch. I’m honored by your trust.”

“If you insist on being honored by everything, it’s going to be a long interview,” Prodominus said.

“I …” Maya paused, nonplussed. “I apologize, Kyriliarch.”

Nicomidi rolled his eyes and glared at Prodominus. “If you could keep your prodigious wit under control?”

“In any event,” Baselanthus said irritably, “you will be serving on a team with Agathios Tanax and two support trainees. Have you met Tanax?”

“No, Kyriliarch,” Maya said.

“He is my own agathios,” Nicomidi said. “I’m certain he will provide appropriate guidance for you.” There was a knock at the door, and Nicomidi raised his voice. “Come in.”

The young man who entered was tall, with the very dark skin and hawk nose she associated with the Republic aristocracy. Like her, he wore a formal Order tunic, with a haken on his hip. His lips tightened at the sight of her, as though he were already angry, but he kept his posture rigid as he bowed to the three Kyriliarchs.

“Tanax,” Nicomidi said. “Let me introduce you to Maya, agathios to Jaedia Suddenstorm. She will be your second on this assignment.”

“Understood,” Tanax said, turning to Maya. His dark eyes seemed to evaluate her immediately, and his expression said he was unhappy with the results.

“Honored, Agathios,” Maya said with a shallower bow. Tanax responded with a nod.

“Honored,” he murmured, then looked back at Nicomidi. “What’s the assignment?”