Echo reads

Lysander Vane -Inside of Glintlure 

Lysander looked at the petitions on his desk,  fell into his thought. 

He wore a blue-gray surcoat, which is embroidered with the emblem of their family: a star on the waves, although the star is small, but it was shining six-pointed stardom. The waves were stitched with silver threads. Usually, he is a well-groomed person, but recently he was so caught up with the court’s affairs that he just have no time to tend to it. The weariness consumed him and he just let his shaggy, brown-black hair fall down to his shoulders. His grey-blue eyes was dry as well because of long-term reading. He couldn’t help but blink. I’m too tired. 

The outside was pitch black at the moment, and only the sound of the waves on the roaring strand was booming. Unconsciously, he placed his right hand on his chest just to check his chainmail hidden beneath his surcoat again. He did not like the feeling of restraining. However, the assassinations forced him to be more vigilant. 

Plan has to change. He brooded. 

This morning, Lady Scaritaine cried in the court about the murder of her husband. Although Lysander was fond of Lord Scaritaine, he really did not like his wife. His wife was in her 20s, voluptuous but tacky. A coarse milkmaid. All morning, she just collapsed on the marble, barely supporting her upper body straight, crying: “My lord, I saw him lying on the bed, not even a trace of struggle, sleeping like a child. But the blood flowed from his neck, staining the quilt and bed sheets all! Who in the world would do such a thing? Please, my lord, I can’t live without my husband! “After that, the court was filled with arguments. They are all blaming me, because I already told them that I arrested the murderer but the assassination continues. 

Resting on his desk, he let out a long sigh. Then his eyes fell at the three sheets of petitions on the table again. Three assassinations, no result. For the past three months, the first one was Will, then Lowe, and now Lord Scarlettan. They were my supporters.  They supported my right to Glintlure. I have arrested Emberlynn, but now this happened again. What is going on? He clenched his fists, locking his brows. I must give them an explanation immediately. 

“My lord,” Merryn’s  soft voice resounded behind the door, “I have brought Chancellor Simeon with me.”

We’re on the stage now. He tapped the wooden table twice with his index finger. 

“Come in,” he slowly sat back at the wooden chair, holding his forehead. After hearing the sound of the door closed, he looked up. First, he met with Merryn’s brown-gray eyes. Then he gazed at Chancellor Simeon. “It seems that we have the wrong person.”

“My lord,” Chancellor Simeon was a head shorter than Merryn, but his voice was like that coming from a giant. Lysander could see his throat knot rolling under his stiff collar, “with all due respect, you are a little hasty in the matter of Emberlynn.”He walked straight to the wooden chair on the opposite side to sit down, looking at Lysander for a few seconds, then he took it back. 

“Lord Simeon, we did find Emberlynn’s letters with Shadowstone in her room,” Merryn said with sarcasm, he was facing Chancellor Simeon, but he gave Lysander a short glance, “Emberlynn did confess.”

“In those letters, although there are concerns about my rule, there is no direct evidence suggests that she is the mastermind of the assassinations.” My part. Then he stretched out his hands, looking at Chancellor Simeon again. I wanted him to speak out. 

“There are Shadowfeathers in Shadowstone, my lord,” Merryn looked at Lysander with a smile. “Emberlynn doesn’t even need to do the assassinations herself, even if she’s in prison.”

“Well,” Lysander spoke thoughtfully, good, “Chancellor Simeon, what do you think?”

After a few seconds of silence, Chancellor Simeon finally said slowly, “It is possible that Lord Merryn said, but we could also have misjudged this whole thing from the beginning.”

“Huh,” Merryn sniffed, “then shall we let Emberlynn out?” She’s on her way to the Roaring strand now. “

“We agreed to just lock her up, not to execute her!” Lysander stood up pretending to be angry. My role. He glared at Merryn, “Who gave the order?”

“Me,” Merryn replied without hesitation, “My lord, have you forgotten how your father died? Even if Emberlynn is not the murderer of these assassinations, she will surely become a threat to you in the future. “

“Lord Merryn, you shouldn’t be taking matters into your own hands beyond my authority,” Simeon stood up as well and glared at Merryn. 

“Enough,” good work, Merryn. Lysander raised his voice, “What’s done is done. Now we need to focus on finding the truth.”

“My lord,” Simeon looked back at Lysander. His eyes are sharp like an eagle,”Emberlynn must be returned immediately. We do not have enough evidence to prove that she is the murderer.”

Whether she is the murderer or not, she is doomed to die, Simeon. 

“Lord Simeon, even if we take her back, can we find the real killer?”Lysander resumed with his usual low voice. “As you can see, although she did not mention Shadowfeathers, she expressed her concern about our rule. I am afraid that she is not the main culprit, but also an accomplice. Even if she has nothing to do with these assassinations, her communication with Shadowstone is by no means a good thing. We all know that.”

They froze for a while. After a long time, Simeon sighed, “You can bring her back and let her investigate.” He paused, “Lord Scarlettan’s ring has been taken away, and she should be able to trace it.”

“Although they don’t have an Element Conduit to wield, they still have a talent for Magical Sensitivity. Is that what you mean? Lord Simeon. “Merryn laughed, glanced at Lysander intently, then patted Simeon on his left shoulder,” that’s a good idea, but how do we know she won’t run away if we let her go? “

Well done, everything is going in the direction I expected. Lysander crossed his hands on the table and looked at Simeon. 

“She is a elementalist,” Lysander restrained his disgust when Simeon said the word, “Their understanding of the elements, and even the absorption of the soul, is still more thorough than ordinary people understand.”

“And she doesn’t have that crown now,” Merryn grinned, “An elementalist without Element Conduit is just like an bird without wings.”

“But she can still make a contract with the Devourer.” Simeon said calmly, as if talking about an unusual little thing. “The Devourer will leave a mark on her. The Devourer should have tracked the ring before, which can enhance her Sensitivity. If she wants to escape, the instinct of the Devourer to track will not let her go.”

“Then it’s decided, Lord Simeon, you and Merryn go back to Emberlynn,” Lysander’s eyes sharpened. This is what I want, “and talk to her about our terms.”