"Irathy mages have a proven track record of lying," Vell said to Sonder in a hushed tone.

"What?" she said.

The comment came out of nowhere.

"They'll try to separate us somehow, and seeing that we are in their care, it should be easy for them. You may not realize this, but we are something like prisoners now. Walking out of here isn't an option anymore." Vell told her.

Sonder didn’t exactly know what to expect in Irath. She hoped that they were less villainous than she imagined, but hearing what Vell was saying to her, she thought they might be even worse.

“I know you can withstand mental duress.” He continued, “But under no circumstances do I want to see you getting tortured physically, and they will try to. I don’t even want to imagine what they might do. But they won’t start with it, no, not in the beginning while I am still here.”

“I’d do anything for my family,” Sonder said resolutely.

Vell glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I know you would," he murmured. "But I don't want you to have to."

The High Councilor led them through a labyrinth of corridors, the walls pulsating with the same iridescent magic.

Finally, they came to a stop in front of an ornate door. The councilor waved his hand, and the door swung open, revealing an expansive room filled with ancient artifacts and shelves of ancient scrolls.

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"This is the Hall of Records," the councilor announced. “Dread Mage,” he said with the same dry and monotone tone. “I want you to tell our scribes everything you know about the taming of the banshee. Do not leave out a single detail. We want to have thorough knowledge of this subject.”

Sonder wanted to go with Vell but was denied by the guards who escorted them here.

“It seems that my banshee is not allowed in here,” Vell said.

“You are a guest, yes, but this creature is not; it is not even a person, and you seem to be mistaken.” The councilor said, “It is ours, not yours. You have taken our offer, and all deals with us are final. We do not offer a reimbursement if you change your mind.”

“I know. This isn’t the first time I have dealt with your kind.”

“We will take it away.” The councilor said, “And then you do not need to worry about it anymore.”

“What will you do with her?” Vell asked.

“You do not need to worry about it. Our methods and the knowledge we gather from them are ours only.”

Vell nodded his head slowly, gave an encouraging nod to Sonder, and told her with a loud voice, “You go with them. And I will assume everything you do while on your own is necessary.”

He almost winked at her, but that would have been too obvious.

The guards escorted were away while Vell went further into the halls.

He sat down in a lavish but still very practical seat in the typical Irath style.

“How long will the parting of the knowledge take?” The councilor asked.

“However long I wish it to take, or as long as common courtesy allows me to stay in your beautiful country, I have a bronze tau; you know how much it's worth.”

“It is worth as much as the king’s own word.” The councilor spoke, his mouth almost forming a frown.

“That’s right, and I wish to enjoy my stay for as long as I can. Irath doesn’t get many visitors, so being here is an honor.”

“As you wish,” the councilor said. If he could change his tone, then he would clearly sound irritated.

Or maybe that was the only way he could talk to non-irathy; always slightly irritated.