Sinshei looked away. He wasn’t wrong. Magus had initially refused, but then she informed him Gordian was already at the beach with the Seeds, the first of many rounds of prayers having begun. Dozens of priests, and every single magistrate, were also there to bear witness. If Magus halted proceedings, it would be abundantly clear he was going against the church’s Anointed One, a tricky proposition even for a respected paragon and Imperator like Magus. Even if they disagreed behind closed doors, they were meant to present a unified front to the public.

“Complaining and bickering will not alter the past, so instead let us plan for the future.” She gestured toward the pyre. “How might we deal with this? Can we lie about the nature of his death? Or perhaps pretend he returned to Gadir and appoint someone new to take his place?”

“Naïve fantasies,” Magus said. “Before the dawn rises every man, woman, and child of Vallessau will hear stories of the Vagrant claiming the life of Thanet’s regent. Already we deal with a sudden resurgence. This victory will only strengthen them. Damn it, how in Lucavi’s name did they know the ritual was taking place? Have you spies among your ranks?”

“I hand-picked every magistrate and priest who accompanied this invasion,” she said with a shake of her head. “Their faith is without flaw. No, I suspect Paragon Lendsy’s death is related, a fact that becomes clear only in hindsight.”

“Another slain paragon?” he asked. “I heard nothing of this.”

“Because it happened only earlier today. Lendsy Moralae, Paragon of Blades. He was found dead in his cabin on the caravel shortly after docking. My priests have been questioning the crew, and we have a primary suspect. A giant man named Meffrit Mason, though likely that is an alias. He vanished shortly after disembarking, no family, no appearance at any of the inns. We’ll have posters up for him shortly, but even with a handsome reward I do not expect the populace to aid us much.”

“So this Meffrit learned of the Seeds on the months sailing here?” Magus said. “It is a possibility, but how would a civilian know the difference between an acolyte and Seed, or of the ritual?”

“Because he wasn’t a civilian. Based on his description, I believe we have already met him. The man with the gauntlets. You saw how he fought, and the strength he wielded. He was once a paragon, now turned traitor. It explains how he would know of the ritual, and the purpose of the Seeds.”

She hadn’t believed it possible that Magus’s mood could worsen, but somehow it did. He stepped around the fire, the shadows it cast upon his face adding a sinister edge to his glare.

“A traitorous paragon, here, in Thanet? Brought on the very boat carrying the Seeds you demanded for your ritual?”