Suddenly realizing this, Wardyke postponed his search and set about regaining the attention he had lost. He nodded sharply at his drummers and within seconds the pounding of their insistent beat had wound the villagers to a fever pitch of anxiety again. From there he took them through a range of emotions ending with passive acceptance of whatever he wished.
Kyra was not listening, but Karne, who was, was impressed with the way he handled the crowd. He watched it all as though he were somehow outside the whole scene, and when he realized this, and that he was not a slave to Wardyke’s power as the rest appeared to be, he was surprised. He looked at Kyra resting against his shoulder also unmoved by Wardyke’s will and Fern beside him still standing straight and independent, but he could feel
