Many strange and wondrous things are happening in our world, now the magical barrier is gone. Lies and truth have become so mixed up that it is hard to tell one from the other. I can’t help you there, my son. It is up to every one of us to search for the truth. Lord Ichiro shook his head, obviously disbelieving Asami and Retsu’s tale. As he was both the leader of clan Chenjaku and father to Sendatsu’s dead wife, Kayiko, he was a key ally of Jaken and one Asami knew had to be won over. However, he had interrupted her almost as soon as she had begun. ‘Even Sumiko would not stoop so low,’ Ichiro told the Council. ‘You forget — the Magic-weavers have a history of deceit and betrayal. They have been outside society for three centuries for just such a reason,’ Retsu fired back. ‘We must send a message warning Lord Jaken and demanding the return of Lady Sumiko for trial for treason.’ ‘We will need evidence to put our names to that,’ Ichiro said flatly.
