“I hold full faith in your ability to do so,” Gordian said. The regent stood from his chair. “Though I must admit I hoped you would come to this meeting knowing anything about this Vagrant person. I trust it will be only a matter of time until you do. Good luck in your hunting, Imperator. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. My city guard are not as skilled or well armed as your soldiers and paragons, but their patrols take them to many deep corners your own men and women do not go.”

“I do have something in mind,” Magus said. “If you would, wait for me at the castle armory so we may discuss the matter further.”

“If you wish,” Gordian said. He dipped his head to the Imperator, then offered a more elegant bow to Sinshei. The difference in respect was both sincere, as well as meant to prick at Magus’s pride. Sinshei smiled sweetly at him and acknowledged the bow with a curling gesture of her hand. Worms of doubt squiggled in her stomach, though she let not a hint of that show on her face. Magus didn’t want her privy to the details of whatever he was planning. Not a good sign.

“Come, Soma,” she said, rising from her own seat now that Gordian was gone. “Rumors spread like wildfire of the heroic nature of this murderous Vagrant. We must meet with the other magistrates across Thanet. Our sermons must cast his actions as insidious instead of heroic.”

The blue-armored paragon bowed low and then held the door open for her.

“Another productive meeting,” he whispered as she exited.

“I’ve suffered through worse.”

Before they could leave, Magus called out to them from the other side of the table.

“Hold,” he said, but not to Sinshei. “I would speak with you a moment, paragon.”

Soma glanced at Sinshei and then lifted an eyebrow.

“Meet me in my room,” she said as answer to his unspoken question. “I would know what the Imperator is plotting.”

CHAPTER 19

SOMA

The Anointed One exited, leaving the two paragons alone in the council room. Soma crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, the tip of his spear clacking against the weathered stone. He waited for Magus to speak, but the giant man seemed in no hurry. Instead he put his hands on his hips and sized Soma up and down. It was a feeling Soma was well familiar with. Magus was deciding if he could defeat Soma in a battle. It took all his effort to keep his smirk hidden.

“I’ve heard about you,” Magus said. “Less of you, I suppose, and more of your Ordiae heritage. A family of god-killers? You’ve inherited quite a legacy.”

“A legacy well earned.”

“And one you honored here in Thanet. It was your spear that claimed Endarius’s life, was it not?”

Now this was a smile Soma need not hide.