Rumors could be stamped out. Questions were harder by far. The two dozen people in this room were formed from questions and theories and inquiries. They were creatures of logic and patterns and questions. They were Glenn Burnie's Inquisitors, senior and junior, young and old, even male and female. They were vexed.
The Governor had returned, had caused a scene at the most inappropriate time, had, with Rhaena Olwak, what even the most experienced in the room remembered to be their first argument in years. He had gone directly to this very building, had asked his own questions, had read files provided by his people, by these people, and then had simply disappeared. Now Miss Olwak, calling herself Mrs. Burnie, had sent a letter about announcing he was away again and none of them had any idea where. It didn't make sense. Nothing did, except for, of course, the very worst possibilities.
There were procedures in the case of the Governor's absence. Heads were to be kept down. Work was to be done in secret. The Bureaucracy could handle this sort of thing, could ensure that steps were taken. The biggest thing was not to cause a stir or bring attention down upon the organization.
Attention, however, was going to come one way or another. This morning, it came in the form of The Man in White.
He knew a thing or two about how the Inquisitory was run. He was there at its creation, even if it wasn't his idea. He helped recruit many in the room personally. Despite that, there were more than a few hushed whispers upon his arrival in the room. He was younger than he ought to be, significantly younger. He was in white and not black, of course. Most surprising, perhaps, was his vitality. They had some idea the deal he had made with the Storyteller, with the role he had been playing, with the needs that he possessed. Now he seemed as healthy as could be, too healthy. His skin had color. His eyes were bright.
His posture, though, needed some work. The Man in White slumped against the wall, looking at the assembled Inquisitors. When he spoke, it was with his usual southern accent, light and casual. "Hello, my friends. Good morning. It's good to see you all so alert and focused on your work, yes? So much to do. So many questions and little pokings and how-do-you say.. ah, inquiries." His smile was toothy, focused, his eyes alert, despite his otherwise relaxed nature. "Some of you, I think, have questions about the Governor, about Rhaena Olwak. Some of you have questions about pins, about Elliot Brown, about the fae, about the Storyteller being sent to Golben. Such questions. Such good questions. Such smart people in this room."
His tone darkened. His eyes narrowed. The smile became harsher. "That can be changed, you know. Not that you are people. Not that you are in this room. But that you are smart. It can be taken away. Not your jobs, no. Just who you are." There wasn't a person in the room that didn't understand the threat, that didn't understand the scrutiny that they had all just come under. "The Inquisitory is loyal to Myrken Wood. In the Governor's unfortunate absence, the Lady Burnie is caring for things in his stead. As the Inquisitory is loyal to Myrken, it is loyal to her, yes? Our dear, dear Glenn Burnie personally oversaw your operations. He is away, you see? Until he returns, someone has to fill that tedious, meticulous, quite vacant role. That is to be me."
Warmth reentered his voice as he pushed off the wall, walking towards the first row of desks. There, right in the front, sat the red-haired Mary Ford, youngest in the room, the most Junior of Junior Inquisitors. The Man In White took her hand. "There has been no need for a High Inquisitor before, bella. Now there is. Do not despair." He gave the hand a little squeeze as she squirmed uncomfortably under his attention. Releasing it, he looked to the rest of the room once again. "There is still much work to be done and so many questions to be asked. Catch has his horn. The Storyteller's magic still lingers. We find ourselves annoyed by Rodel. Thessilane looms. Moreover, I'm sure Lady Burnie will have specific tasks for all of us when it comes to further developing her, how shall we say it, curriculum for Myrken. I'll expect you to show the proper enthusiasm and focus on these tasks."
Giuseppe smiled to his inquisitors. "It would be best if you do not let that focus waver, yes? I do look forward to working with all of you." At that, he started the walk between those desks towards Burnie's office in the back of the building. "If you have any questions," he finished as he put his hand upon his doorknob. "Please do not hesitate to knock."