Benign and Malignant

The echo of my boots attracted the silent judgment of every deluded man in the Hall. Under their disapproving gaze, I was glad to be wearing armor. Well judgment could go both ways and while the Order held temporal power, I was now a peer to a different kind.

“I see you respect your banishment as much as you respected our Mysteries. You hated this place enough to make us hate you. What evil brought you back to trouble us again?” Primate Davis stood with gravitas, his white beard snaking down his chest.

I slid my sword free of its scabbard, the rasp loud enough to compete with the thundering heart beat in my ears. Some of the clergymen stiffened but Primate Davis merely sniffed.

“Do you recognize this crest?” I asked, gesturing to the silvery gyrfalcon trapped in flight.

“I don't see--”

“Shut up! Send someone to fetch Shepherd Fengerling.”

Cowed and slightly quieter, he asked, “Why would you have me do so?”

Shame of memory flooded through me but my voice was steel. “His crimes are about to be answered.”