II | The Calling of the Cloud of Witnesses
Dravidian took the keys and walked to the ignudi cage, where he opened the little door and reached in, catching a red one by the tip of her wing, then drew her out, shutting the hatch. In his despair he forgot to latch it, much less to lock it. He walked back to the prefect and handed him both the keys and the creature.
Asmodeus took the elfemale and held it close over Shekalane, rubbing its wings with his thumb so that ignudi dust fell glittering into her hair, and onto her face, and over her entire body. When he was done he allowed the red ignudi to fly free.
“There we are, much better,” he said, then rose his hand and snapped his bony fingers, shouting, “Drop the curtain and play the mating call.”
Dravidian heard brownies shuffling along pl
