“Yes, but tell me anyway,” Soen said, licking his sharp teeth. “What was happening right before. . when everything was still right.”
The chimerian blinked, calming as he concentrated on the single memory. “We were at House Devotions. Lord Timuran was beside the altar with the Lady and his daughter.”
Soen nodded. At last we’re getting somewhere, he thought. Everything appeared fine up to the House Devotions. “And then. .”
The chimerian was blinking faster now, struggling to organize his memories into words. “Then there was some trouble on the other side of the garden. One of the warriors just returned. I didn’t recognize him, but he must have arrived earlier in the day.”
“The day of the trouble, you mean.”
“Yes. . there was a shout. . that’s what got my attention. . and when I looked up, the Guardians were moving toward this warrior. He was fighting them, too. I remember thinking he was frighteningly strong for a human.”
“A human?” Soen asked in mild surprise.
“That’s right! I remember now; somehow he had a blade. Lord Timuran drew his own sword and was charging toward him. This human saw him coming, I’m sure of it. Guardians were all around him but I saw him turn and. . and. .”
“What happened next?” Soen urged. “One thing after the other. . what happened next.”
“The Well. .”
“The Aether Well?”
“Yes, the Aether Well. . it, I don’t know, it. . shattered. . outward, away from the center. .”
Soen leaned back. “It exploded?”
“I don’t understand.”
Soen shook his head. “You mean it cracked. . it broke.”
“No, sire,” the chimerian’s large eyes filled with tears. “It was suddenly no more at all. . not a piece of it larger than the smallest finger on your hand, sire.”
Soen shook his head in disbelief.
“I think it was that human who did it,” the chimerian moaned. “I think he’s the one that made me sick. Please, sire. . my head is full of bad spirits. . ghosts of the dead. . please, I want to be well again.”
“Rest easy. I know how to get rid of such ghosts,” Soen said; then he stood and turned again to Gradek. “Check with your Octian Commanders. Find out if any of them saw a human male slave any time since all this began.”
“Master,” Gradek protested. “We were running through the folds for days. . we’ve probably seen a number of hoo-mani slaves. .”
“Just ask them!” Soen snapped.
“Sire! By the Will of the Emperor, I live to serve!”