“I agree, although that is not the issue at hand. It would be easy enough to ascertain if the three soldiers who died are, indeed, the three who used her on that occasion.” He indicated Joss. “But that does not explain how she killed them without leaving a mark on them.”

Censor Guri stepped forward. He was a burly, muscular man in the prime of life, vigorous and a bit aggressive, a typical adherent of Kotaru the Thunderer. “Every Guardian carries a staff. So the tales say. Their staff ‘measures life and death.’ What if the Guardians walk the land to take vengeance, not to bring justice?”

Joss shook his head, his throat too tight to speak.

“Just because you don’t want it to be true doesn’t make it false,” pressed the censor. “Just after the turn of the year, a family of refugees walked through Storos on their way to relatives farther north. They’d escaped from their village on West Track. They said folk saw a man riding a winged horse with the invading army.”

“Which doesn’t answer how it was done.” The fury that had scorched off Anji earlier had subsided, to Joss’s relief. “Is it sorcery? A sword has an edge, and can be met with other weapons. What weapon protects us against another attack such as this, whether demon or—as you say—Guardian?”

“Nothing,” said the censor. “The gods set the Guardians over us, to serve justice.”

“We cannot raise our hands against the Guardians,” said the Storos councilwoman, Volla. “They possess a second heart and third eye, to see into the heart of every woman and man.”

Anji looked skeptical. “That being so, I should think they would be frightening to meet. Who among us wishes his innermost thoughts flung open?” He tilted his head, considering his own words. “Although it might explain Chief Tuvi’s lapse, which I can comprehend in no other way.”

“No, indeed, Captain,” said Chief Deze. He was a thin, phlegmatic soldier, tough as best quality rope. “Tuvi would die before he would fail you.”

Joss wondered. If the Marit he had met at the refuge had not been a dream, as he imagined, then she had seen into his innermost heart. Now that he thought of it, she had often looked away while talking to him, as if she did not want to see the truth of what he had become. Aui! Blindness between lovers was a blessing.

“Marshal Joss,” said Anji, calling him back to the muggy courtyard under cloudy skies. “I’d like to see for myself that my wife has weathered this storm before I continue my efforts here on the plain. Can you convey me to Olossi?”

“I can, and I will. My eagle needs rest, and meat. We’ve been a full day searching for you, and in any case he can’t fly at night. We’ll leave at dawn.”

Anji turned to the censor and the local official. “That being so, we should finish our business. I have a proposition to make in my capacity as commander of the Olo’osson militia.”