"You are right," Harafin said. "There is evidence of mind tampering here." He knelt beside a plush couch upon which Ceren lay, wrapped in her long, green cloak, still unconscious.

Kevlin stood nearby, trying not to show how tired and sore he still felt. Indira had healed him enough to carry Ceren out of the sunken garden and back to a small waiting room near the council chamber where Harafin was still in the meeting.

The old sentinel then led them to this richly appointed meeting room. It held a huge mahogany table surrounded by ten padded wooden chairs, a fireplace, two couches, and three overstuffed chairs. Now he looked up from where he had been examining Ceren.

"Tell me exactly what happened."

Kevlin related the strange experience, but glossed over the part where Ceren threw herself at him. Indira scowled when he reached that part.

He chose his words very carefully. Indira remained motionless, her lips turned down. Could she really break every bone in his body? Would she?

Yes, on both counts. The certainty of it thrilled him. She had to really care for him. Smiling right now would be a really bad idea, though.

He finished the tale by detailing the fight and Indira's assistance. Harafin didn't seem very interested in that part, although he did raise an eyebrow in surprise when Kevlin related how Indira punched Ceren and beat her senseless.

"You did the right thing, my girl," Harafin said. "I'm impressed you had the strength for it. It must have been extremely difficult for you."

"At the moment it felt like the right thing to do."

Harafin placed a glowing hand again on Ceren’s head. Indira glanced at Kevlin, and he gave her a reassuring smile. She didn't return it, but didn't glare at him either.

After several quiet moments while they watched Harafin work, the old Sentinel leaned back with a sigh. Ceren blinked and opened her eyes.

She seemed surprised to find Harafin kneeling so close to her. She looked around, her expression confused. "Master Harafin? Kevlin? Indira?" She sat up with Harfin's help. "What happened? Where are we? Why does my face hurt so much?"

As she gingerly explored her bruised cheeks with one hand, Harafin said, "Tell me what you remember, Ceren."

"I just had the craziest dream . . ."

She glanced at Kevlin and then at Indira. Her eyes widened in surprise and she peeked under her concealing cloak. Her face flushed crimson and she buried it in her hands.

"It was real, wasn't it?" She risked a glance at Kevlin. "I really . . .?"

He nodded.

She turned to Indira and asked in a tiny voice, "Really?"

"You did." Indira didn't hide her anger.

"Oh, no." Ceren turned to Harafin, her face panicked. "What happened to me? I didn't . . . I mean, I couldn't. I wouldn't!"

"Easy," Harafin said. He lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Indira discovered that someone tampered with your mind and forced you to those actions."

"How?"

"What's the last thing you remember from before your . . . dream?"

Ceren glanced at Kevlin again and her blush deepened. Then she looked at Indira and her face paled, and tears glistened in her brilliant emerald eyes. She scrubbed at her face and winced, and then stared at her hands. She took a few deep breaths and looked to be barely fighting back tears.

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"I know this is a difficult time and a great deal to absorb." Harafin said.

"What else did they make me do?"

"I found no other evidence of tampering. However, I will want to examine you further once you feel better. Matters of the mind are very delicate. For now, I must know what you remember."

"Nothing. The last thing I remember, I was sitting in my rooms in the Freyarr Palace, and someone knocked on the door."

"Who?"

"I don't know," she wailed. She jumped off the couch and stepped toward Kevlin, her face anguished. "Kevlin, I . . ."

She realized her cloak had fallen open. Not the image she was probably trying to convey. She snatched it closed.

Indira moved protectively to Kevlin's side.

"Oh, Indira," Ceren cried.

She swayed toward the healer, as if wanting to rush to her. When Indira made no gesture of encouragement, she retreated back to the couch and buried her face in her hands again. She no longer tried to hold back her emotions, and sobs racked her slender frame.

Kevlin wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't think how that wouldn't end in disaster. Indira would flay him alive. It was clear Ceren hadn't been in control, but the emotions were too recent, too powerful.

What an insane dilemma. Ceren was a close friend, and she had been the victim of a villainous scheme that robbed her of her conscious will. She had been a helpless victim, but he couldn't comfort her. The unfairness of it made him want to hit something.

To his surprise, Indira moved to Ceren's side and sank to her knees beside the weeping young woman. Indira wrapped Ceren in her arms and said softly, "It's all right, Ceren. We understand."

Ceren threw her arms around Indira and wept into the Healer's shoulder. "Oh Indira, I'm so sorry."

Indira held her until Ceren's emotions ran their course and she regained control. Finally she sat up and wiped at her bruised cheeks.

"Harafin, who did this to me?"

"I do not know. They extracted the memories of their visit quite thoroughly. All I could sense was that your attacker was someone you knew."

"But I know everyone."

"Then that part's not very helpful."

"Why would they?"

"It appears the enemy is growing desperate," Harafin said.

"They wanted to know about Tia Khoa," Kevlin said. He didn't bother to comment on the ridiculous comments about changing the world.

"That's not surprising," Harafin said. "What I don't understand is the question about Bajaran's murderer."

"Masego," Kevlin said.

"We really should have seen that connection sooner," Harafin said.

"He's been involved from the very beginning," Kevlin said.

Ceren nodded. "He was Rhea's master. He set her up to work with Bajaran and then betray him after he attacked Antigonus."

"He's been a player since before Antigonus left on his fateful journey," Harafin said. "An enemy among us, working from the shadows. We've underestimated him."

"Why ask about it though?" Indira asked. "If he was involved, why point it out?"

"It means whoever broke into your mind was hunting for that connection too," Harafin said.

"Another faction?" Kevlin asked.

Just what they needed, more secret enemies. The capital seemed to breed them like rats.

Tanathos had escaped, Masego was attacking at will despite everything they did, and now some unknown third party was apparently involved. He wasn't sure the city could handle any more.

"What if they try again?" Ceren asked.

"Don't worry about that. I have shielded your mind. You are under my personal protection now. Should the enemy attempt to influence you again, I will know about it instantly." He gave her a reassuring smile. "Should they attempt it, they will not find you an easy target."

"Thank you." Ceren hugged him. He looked a little surprised, but held the slender woman for a moment.

"For the time being, I want you to return to your quarters and don something more appropriate."

Ceren pulled the cloak more closely around her. "Of course."

"Do you remember enough to understand the situation in the city?"

"Yes."

"Good. Once you're dressed, go to the keisara and deliver an update on the situation."

"That's it?"

"It is enough for now. Keep up the appearance of normalcy until we determine a plan of attack."

"How can we do that?"

"The person who tampered with you mind showed great caution. They implanted the powerful impulses to act the way you did, but left no trace back to them. They must be planning to meet with you again soon to see what you discovered."

"Who are you meeting with today?" Kevlin asked.

"Just the keisara, and then Ambassador Damarist."

Kevlin shared a look with Harafin, who said softly, "Again we turn to the ambassador."

"Do you think he's lying about everything?"

"Not everything. Rarely does anyone lie about everything. It's too easy to prove the fabrication. For example, I have confirmed with Ambassador Janezeko that he did, in fact, refer the Blade Stalwart Dhanjal to Ambassador Damarist."

"So, you don't think he's involved in this plot," Ceren asked.

"I didn't say that. His involvement with Remiel was foolish, but perhaps not intentionally deceitful. However, I suspect there is more he is withholding from me."

"He's not a Sentinel," Ceren said. "He couldn't have done this to me."

"No, but he may know who did."

"So what do we do?"

"Go visit the keisara. We will fashion a plan around your visit to the ambassador to ferret out the truth."

Harafin's voice took on a hard edge. "Then we hunt down whoever did this to you and we destroy them."