I looked to Elpis.

It was barely perceptible, but she shook her head.

I sat still.

“Hawkvale is now allied with Wodell in many matters,” True went on. “King Noctorno is here as my counsel. He is welcome here. But it is Lord Apollo whose skills guard your temples, Aron, for he has sent his wolves, which he commands, to do just that. Therefore, we’ve noted a rapid decrease in reports of such issues at Go’Doan temples. Indeed, since Apollo sent his beasts, we’ve received not a one. Though it should be noted, he can also call them away.”

Aron looked to Apollo.

True kept speaking.

“I would be careful of making enemies as you sit here trying to turn attention from the careless decisions of your leaders that have led to grave tragedies and loss of life. I have warned my people they’ll be punished if they take their ire out on the Go’Doan, and if they are caught doing so, this will hold true. But it is not me who created this problem by not dealing with it. It is the Go’Doan. You forget we have been made fully aware that you have been fully aware that this has been an issue for some time. Indeed, since the death of a king. And you did nothing. Now, we all must clean up your mess and instead of arriving and casting your lot to share in that effort, you antagonize us and make demands.”

Aron opened his mouth, but True was not finished.

“I would suggest you have words with your colleague. If you do not, this summit will end, you will be escorted back to the Dome City, and five nations will be forced to take things in their own hands without the Go’Doan having a voice in how we do that.”

“I would ask you where G’Jell is,” Aron, for some reason at this crucial juncture, demanded.

“I would ask you where G’Seph is,” True retorted. “However, I won’t, for I know. He is in Crittich Keep, without his hands, after being run down by the Nadirii when he attempted escape after he assisted The Rising in their mission to breach The Enchantments in order to burn them down. We’ve been told by prisoners he was a general in that cause. We know he was a high priest with much responsibility bestowed on him from the order of Go’Doan. So perhaps neither of us knowing where G’Jell has disappeared to is good for Jell. For now.”

Aron looked ill, his gaze shifting to Ophelia. “You took Seph’s hands?”

“The Rising took his hands,” True told him.

Aron now looked shocked. “They did?”

“They also murdered my mother as she sat in our temple on my wedding day. A temple where I worship, as did she,” True reminded him. “Thus, it seems they’re capable of a great deal of barbarity.”

“But if Seph is of them, he’s…well, of them,” Aron pointed out.

True sat back and sighed, his eyes moving to Apollo and Noctorno.