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Atticul makes a dismissive sound, gesturing for Xan to speak.

Xan responds bluntly in Plumian.

“I cannot discuss these matters with you until I have that Plumian woman freed from your dungeons,” the priest repeats.

Then, as Warung speaks again, Jemel interprets, “Perhaps she could be traded for the son of Harwin Underlia.”

Atticul smiles. “The Plumians don’t have the son of Harwin Underlia, do you? That is a filthy lie. I have it on good authority that Elric Underlia, the luxorite whore, is currently in the foul den of Damon Darekul. Willingly. He will be tried along with the rest of the traitors when we take them from the Amber Forest.”

Xan freezes as these words spill from the priest’s lips. “How do you know this?” he snaps out.

And the response comes in more smoothly translated Plumian. ”No matter how I know. It’s true isn’t it?”

Xan pauses again. He looks at the priest, but, of course, receives no help from the infuriatingly veiled face. More of Atticul’s translated words come from beneath that veil. “Tell me, Plumian. Did Elric Underlia ever set foot on Pluma? Have you ever seen him?”

Xan says nothing for a moment, then, “I am not here to discuss the son of Lord Harwin. I am here to negotiate freedom for my sister first and then for Pluma. You will demolish the Ferric Wall and leave the eastern half of the isle or you will regret it.”

His heart is beating so hard in his chest. The priest says softly, “Blood sister or sister in arms?”

Xan draws a hard breath through his nose. Is the priest warning him not to reveal that Trysta is his sister, or is he simply unsure of the meaning of the Plumian word? “Simply say Trysta the Plumian,” he replies.

“So,” it is Warung’s words that the priest translates next, “He has nothing to offer us.”

“I am not here to make deals,” Xan says, hoping that they do not detect his tone of desperation when his words have passed through the priest.

“I am sorry,” Warung says, “ that would be impossible. She killed Emperor Selim. How could we possibly pardon such a criminal?”

“Then we have nothing to discuss,” Xan responds. Xan’s mind is racing. Will they eject him from Attar after this? Or throw him into the dungeons too? Perhaps he will be executed alongside Trysta? Already, Atticul has declared that Lukas Darekul’s brothers are wanted for treason. If the priest had simply translated Xan declaring Trysta his sister he could be in graver danger. Although he cannot be sure what the priest said. He should flee now, while he can.

Atticul waves a hand at Warung and says, “Perhaps, dear envoy and I ought to speak privately. Leave us.”

By the time the priest has translated this, the council are already standing and filing out, muttering with disdain.

As they leave, Atticul speaks again. “He is saying I will not be required for what comes next,” the priest translates. “He is asking me to leave and you to remain.”

The priest says something to Atticul in response.

Atticul says something back.

“He is saying that I am not indispensable. He calls my arrogance a sin.” The priest gives Xan a bow.

“What?” Xan can only stare in puzzlement.

Xan turns back to Atticul and finds he is standing. He removes his sword, placing it on the table. He says something else.

The priest says, “The Emperor Ascendent requests that you also remove your sword.”

Xan does so without a word. Atticul walks around the table, laughing and claps Xan on the back, before sitting down in the chair beside him.

Xan glances at the priest once more, who simply nods, and leaves the room. No one else remains, not even Atticul’s bodymen.

“What is this?” Xan says, but Atticul only smiles at him blankly, not understanding.

He shakes his head and says, “I know very well that you speak Artemian, versun.”

Xan stares back at him.

Atticul, still smiling, says, “How about this, answer me now, in Artemian words or the Plumian woman in my cells dies.”