"The President is still upset," Ingle said, tucking his elbows in to sit behind the desk. "I'm afraid most of the President's council are finding it difficult to understand why you brought the five back with you."

"I only brought one," Olmy corrected. "The others followed on their own, unexpectedly."

"Yes, well however they got there, they're trouble. Secessionists are seeking advantages already, and concessions. They're not far from getting all their groups together—and this certainly could unite them. It could also convert the Korzenowski faction from a radical party to a popular front. The President's position could be endangered. Even so, he feels he doesn't have the time to oversee these difficulties directly, what with the Jart conferences still filling his days, so he's assigned Ser Oligand Toller—whom you've met, I believe—and myself."

"Bearers of bad news are never appreciated," Olmy said.

"Yes? Well, whether the news itself is actually good or bad depends on how we react, does it not? Frankly, I don't share all the President's misgivings—some, but not all. I feel we can turn the situation—and the news—to our advantage. Perhaps we can even achieve the consensus we need to face the Jarts effectively. Now, your message said you had more news."

"Someone has hired at least one rogue in City Memory to penetrate the guest quarters. Someone is desperate to find out what all the fuss is."

"Yes, that much I could have guessed," the P.M. said. "Well, then, perhaps it's time we released all we know. It's probably going to be common knowledge in a week or less, especially if rogues are in on it. What's your opinion, Ser Olmy?"

"I've voiced it before, Ser; I should testify before the Nexus."

The P.M. considered that for a moment. "I still have my doubts as to the wisdom of that. But you may be right. If the truth must be unveiled, let us do the unveiling, no? But delicately. Millions of neomorphs are already scared silly by the secession talk. Drop a bombshell into the middle of it—saying the Thistledown has returned to Earth? Not an easy decision. At any rate, we can't call a full Nexus because of the Jart conferences. A partial will have to do." He left the desk, betraying his nerves. "I'll need a heavy session of Talsit this evening." He crossed his arms and floated in the middle of the office, his voluminous black robes assuming billows of repose. "You will testify in person, then, as an agent of the Hexamon?"

"The Frant and I," Olmy confirmed.

"The Frant won't testify; it's against their creed to take an oath."

"It will confirm my testimony. That's allowed."

"And what then, Ser Olmy? How can we restrain our curious ones—whoever hired the rogue—or the Korzenowski faction, Pneuma be kind, after that?"