Interlude

The scene twists and contorts behind a haze, like images seen through a heat-warped smoke or though turbid water. Voices are alternately muffled and indistinct, or warbling and amplified to the point of being indecipherable.

A young King stands before a modest throne, his High Chancellor, Lord Hobson, bent before him in minimal deference.

"She will be found, Ignatious. By Royal Decree. Whoever took her will pay for this insult."

"Highness, there is some evidence that she departed of her own choice. And there is the matter of the Gold Circuit. Should she learn how to use it properly, the entire realm could be in danger."

"You forget yourself Chancellor. She is my betrothed. The Chain is hers by right, as she is MINE by right. She can't use it against me as long as I wear this", the young man fingers the chain of silvery metal around his throat, "Besides. She hasn't been trained. Most likely, her abductors thought to use her against me. The Chain will make it that much easier to find her. Ah, here come the Diviners now."

Three men enter the room, clad in burlap. Their eyes have been put out and they are led on delicate copper chains by tiny twisted men with hairy faces and long sharp incisors. Their voices tumble over each other.

"Hail the King" "Long Live His Majesty" "Glory unto Kardia"

The king gestures lazily. The keepers tug gently on the chains, causing the three seers to throw themselves fully prone to abase themselves before the King.

The king frowns, "Where is she? No riddles or games. No theatrics. Just tell... me... where... she... is."

The seers raise their heads as one, speak as one, "She has been taken as far as Freeport, in the Sanctuary Isles. She is alive. She is in the power of one greater than we three. More we can not see."

"Then we will dispatch an army to Freeport and scour that island until she is found. See that is it done. Now begone."