The tension in this little hallway could cut steel! Not my smartest moment, but Abyssus, it is damn funny! All I can do is stare at her, watching emotions play across her face. She definitely did not like me dropping the false teeth; even I can tell that.

Then the door opens, and a guy in blue robes walks out to break this tension. “Farmer Oldsmen, you are summoned to witness for the court.”

A young fellow stands up, giving me a look when he walks past. Why is he Old’s man? Looks young to me; might be one of those old guys who likes to dress young. I am grasping now; this pressure has gone from funny to not funny.

Stillwater leans in again. “Why did you give all our facts away? That was supposed to be dropped in court. Now she will expect that sort of question.”

All I can do is shrug. There is no rhyme or reason for my actions but I just cannot stop. It feels right.

“What do you mean, false teeth?” Zlata is looking a little uncomfortable as she asks the question.

Gunnar mutters, ‘Don’t do it, Halfy.’

“Yeah, the false teeth,” Opening my mouth, wish I could stop. Pointing at the lower part of my mouth. “Yes, right here. Strange that every one of you half-whatevers have the same trait. Must run in the family.”

Why can I not stop? I look at Stillwater, she rolls her eyes but nods slightly. I am allowed? Or am I going to pay for it later? “These teeth are real, moron.” Zlata glances around; hope she does not spot the Travellers. “Are you saying that I have something to do with all this?”

“Wow, I was talking about teeth, not using hemlock to poison the Commander, but you have… No, you did know, you told me. Weird.”

The sweat coming down on her still face … I think I struck a nerve.

“Darkness, green, colours and chocolate. Sprinkle, sprinkle. It is just there! Bite, bite.” Then WayWocket falls off his chair, laughing.

Stillwater looks at Zlata. “Is this true, Zlata? Did you know that our Commander was about to be poisoned?”

“Of course not. I have no idea what he is talking about.” She then stares at me, her eyes boring into my soul. “What is this all about, Lone? We have the culprits in the court room right now. They are the guilty party.”

“A Paladin of the Orange? Interesting.” I stand and call out to everyone who can hear. “Would you believe that a Paladin of the Orange poisoned someone and then conspired to contaminate the grain bins? Does that sound like someone who would follow the Orange?”

All I can hear and see are people shaking their heads. We all know that would never be possible.

“What, you don’t think a Paladin could not be corrupted? Well, Lone, what about Helmut?” Zlata said.

“Helmut was never an Orange, though it is true he never bashed me as much as the Dock Boys.”

Just then, an intake of breath from Zlata. Stillwater notices it. “Didn’t you know, Zlata, that Lone was a victim of that gang?”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Victim is a pretty strong word there, Joan. Zlata shakes her head, “Victim, he is not, no.”

Looking at her reaction, that is strange. “Yes, they used to extort money from me all the time. That must have been where you saw me and thought I was a part of the deal you had with Malik.”

Each statement is unnerving Zlata. Jenell’s logic, this might work! “Could you stop? I have to centre myself for being the prime witness ...” She trails off.

Gunnar steps in. Guess I cannot have all the fun. “Prime witness? That a joke? So you know everything? That’s a bloody relief; guys, we can go home. Zlata’s got this!”

Grabbing hold of Gunnar’s statement. “Yes, I guess you are right, Gunnar. She knows everything; the murdering on the roads, the attempted assassination of the Duke. It must be because she is the new Jenell.”

“The new ‘Jenell’, who is that?”

What? Zlata, are you from somewhere else? “You know, Saint Jenell, the saint of the Blue. Wordsmith, incorruptible; fact-finder, no? Joan, do you not think that is strange: a citizen not knowing our church?”

Stillwater nods. “I know Mela, Jara and Jenell. Even know who is the leader of the Trinity at the moment: Jessica Pureheart. This is common knowledge with Favinonians. Why don’t you know this, Zlata?”

“I know it all. What are you talking about? Leave me be, I have to get ready.”

I think it is working. Not the original plan, but yay! “So, you know Jessica Pureheart? What was her first path?”

Zlata looks like she has swallowed her tongue, or maybe she looks like a fish— mouth just opening and closing. Funny. “First path? Orange, of course.”

One of the other witnesses turns; a hefty fellow with a red face, very broad shoulders and an even broader gut. “What? She started on the Green path, because of that poor lamb. Everyone knows this.”

He then makes a sign of the Trinity with his meaty hands. Like a reflex, I do it as well, but not Zlata. She just sits there, sweating. “So what? I got that wrong. I must have forgotten.”

A guy, nothing to write home about, stands up and walks over to Zlata. “Why didn’t you do the sign? The Trinity is our path, our light. I follow the Green aspect. Which do you follow?”

“Get away from me, little man. I am the Commander of the Watch. I ask the questions!”

Keeping this ball rolling. “This stuff is taught to us in school, same as reading, writing, maths and history. Being a Commander means you would have gone through the same education, thanking Jenell for your knowledge.”

I do the sign of the Trinity again, while everyone else murmurs their thanks to the Trinity. Zlata slowly copies us, but she just cannot complete the triangle. Her hands are shaking. She then stands up, tries to push the random man out of the way, and when he does not even move a centimetre, scoots past him and starts walking down the hall.

The random speaks up again. “Where are you going, special witness?”

She snarls at the guy. “Going to the toilet!”

Zlata storms off, the guy just laughing, his belly jiggling. Wonder if this guy is a good drinker? “Have fun!” He sits where Zlata was. “Hey, were you trying to push her?”

Say what? “Um, sort of. Why do you ask?”

“No reason. Just found it funny, until the Orange thing. Don’t see how that’s possible, and not knowing our High White as well. Strange.”

“What is your name? And do you like to drink?”

He laughs at that, “Sure do! Should grab a drink sometime, and the name is Eoghann. Pleased to meet you, Lone.”

WayWocket pipes up. “She has left the building.”

Say what? How has Zlata left the building? Stillwater stands. “Can you track her, Way?”

“Donkey doughnuts, I can.”

What is happening here? Gunnar, Way and Joan stand up. I turn to Eoghann. “Come down to the Hall, next sixth day, and I will shout you a few drinks. Thanks a lot for your help.”

He looks at me, smiling, “Anytime, Lone. I’ll see you there with a pitcher in hand!”

I am walking fast to catch up with the rest of the Rejects. Stillwater is talking to Althanis. “We might have pushed her a little too far, but luckily Way told me he was going to put a tracker on her.”

When was that? Oh, when he tripped. Althanis says “I’ll head in and tell them that she has left. I am glad she wasn’t trapped in there; her aura was spiking aggression and there would have been violence soon.”

I step up. “We are going after her?”

Stillwater turns. “I will be speaking to you later after all this, but yes, we will be following her.”

Sweet, a chase! “Let us go!”