psychic thread

[agentlenpc]

[The gentle brush against the Strangers' minds comes in early evening. It is, as all mental touches are from Fayura, soft and unassuming, much like a polite knock at a door. Once as many minds are connected as she thinks will open the door to her, she speaks.]

I am curious, Strangers, what you would do with the young man who shot and killed Councilwoman Vera.

Many of you come from worlds where there are laws against murder. While we have no such laws here, when a Blood male in a Queen's Territory kills another without cause, she may demand a price from him. Sometimes, that is his own life if he was negligent enough with his temper and sometimes, it's something less.

My trouble is this: if I execute him according to the laws of the Blood, of which he is not one, the Guilds will rouse their people into a furor and attack not only me, but the people of Draega. If I turn him over to the Ebon Council, the Guilds will do much the same, and that will incite the Council to strike back. And if I return him to the Guilds for accolades instead of punishment for taking a life, the Ebon Council will have cause to rip apart the Guilds and anyone in their way to extract from him the price for murdering one of their own.

Were you me, what course would you take? And please try not to shout over each other; this is as many of you as I could reach.

Comments

[agentlenpc]

[Her first reaction to Molly's suggestion is negative. Though she tries to keep that reaction to herself, the flavor of horror and disgust seeps through just a little.

But when Molly continues and explains how his Craft works, that horror and disgust fades to embarrassment at her reaction and curiosity.]

Forgive my reaction. To the Blood, the sanctity of the mind isn't taken lightly. But this doesn't sound... [Like what the Blood do to each other when they want to cause hideous harm. The flavor of her words is much more personal than in her initial overture; she's experienced this kind of cruelty.] If it causes no harm... I wouldn't forbid you from trying, but you would likely need to convince Master Crafter Kasik the ability is harmless. No doubt he'll insist on being present for any questioning.

[mollymocked]

[He's not bothered by even the slightest twinge of disgust, because he goes by the results, not by the nature of it. It's not necessarily an awful spell to him- all it does is make someone be honest with him for an hour and then they get wet cat pissy and that's the end of that.

He's terrible at convincing people of anything, but he's not gonna admit it.]

That's fair. And I don't even know what exactly I should be asking. You could do the questioning if you like. All I have to say is that he should answer your questions as honestly as he can, and he'll do it. You'd get about an hour of cooperation out of him.

[agentlenpc]

There is another Stranger, Aithne, who would like to question him on my behalf. Frankly, I think that would be better than me going. I am...

[Reticence flavors their connection, a hesitance.]

Many find me unnerving, even among the landens. Regardless, I shall give her my questions, and she may ask them with you, if that is amenable.

[mollymocked]

That sounds absolutely doable. We’ll take care of this. Gods know we don’t need something else to catch fire.

[agentlenpc]

[She laughs, and the bright amusement bubbles between them, effervescent like champagne.]

I admit, I'm tired of the literal and figurative smokey smell that lingers around this city.

[mollymocked]

Absolutely. Hopefully, we can do something about that. I can't actually say I know the person you're talking about, but I get on with people very easily.

[This is about 85% a lie.]

[agentlenpc]

Excellent! I, too, get on with people quite easily until they try to kill me, but I suppose that's just how Draega is.

[She gets you, Molly.]

I'll make sure you're kept apprised of the situation. Loren will probably reach out. He's very good at organizing.