“If it was a demon,” said Joss.

“It was a demon,” said Anji. “The person you describe was the slave. She died in the desert. No human could have survived such a sandstorm. You’re sure the horse had wings?”

“The testimony comes from your own men. And from others in the compound who witnessed, the servants of your household as well as Ri Amarah guards. In addition, as I said, there were independent sightings from elsewhere in Olossi.”

“Why were Ri Amarah guards at the compound?” asked the Silver. The man stood aloof from his Olossi comrades with his arms crossed and his slanted eyes giving him a suspicious expression.

What was the cursed man’s name? Isar sen Haf Gi Ri. “Your son and daughter were visiting, in the private garden.”

This statement surprised everyone except Anji. Isar muttered, skin suffused with blood. The hells! He was cursed angry, if Joss was any judge of expression. But he said nothing more.

“You do not think it was a demon,” said Anji.

“If you have to choose between what seems the most reasonable explanation, and what the cold, hard evidence reveals, go with the evidence. It was a Guardian.”

“The Guardians have vanished,” said the temple censor, called Guri.

“A Guardian,” said Anji, “who according to your tales hold an exalted position as guardians of justice. Yet a creature matching the description of these Guardians has murdered two of my men. Now that I think of it, it would explain Eitai’s death some weeks ago in the Barrens. Sayan’s report of the incident was so disjointed that we thought both men suffered a sun-sickness from heat and lack of water, and that Eitai died of it, but perhaps we were mistaken. Which means the Hieros was also mistaken in her assessment of the envoy of Ilu she thought was a Guardian, the one who removed the demon from her care.”

“I would not lightly dismiss the testimony of the Hieros,” said Joss. “She is no fool. He likely was a Guardian, but considering the subsequent behavior of the outlander girl, she was already corrupted.”

“Or bringing what she thought was justice,” said Isar. Joss was surprised to hear him speak; the others regarded him as if his horns were suddenly visible.

“What do you mean?” asked Anji.

“My people do not sanction slavery. According to the testimony of the witnesses, the demon—the Guardian—the girl—accused three of your soldiers of rape. Those who are slaves have no right to say yea or nay over what is done to them. Therefore, a slave woman who is in that condition and made to have relations with a man has no choice. That is rape.”

“Not according to the laws of the Hundred,” said Censor Guri. “We are not ruled by Silver laws.”

Anji frowned. “She belonged to Shai. He sold her services to certain of my men one night only, which was certainly his right. When my wife objected, he ceased the practice.”

“Your wife is an honorable woman,” murmured Isar.