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Events of the 4th of Felsite.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Ah, yes. Yes I did." said the Priestess, standing in her cell.
"Please take a seat." she gestured to the bed nearby.
"What's this about?" asked her guest.
"Well, I just need to check something, and you're the last of my appointments."
"I've been busy. The fortress is a busy place."
"Indeed." replied the Priestess, dryly.

Beneath this conversation the Priestess was performing some less-than-mundane investigation upon her guest. She knew this was the student now, there could be no doubt about it. But she could not confront her here, like this. Better to play the fool.

"Well, I've seen everything I need to." said the Priestess.
The guest stood, but rather than turning to leave, she said "Yes. And that's rather the problem, isn't it?"
"I'm not sure what you mean." said the Priestess.
"I know why you're here, slave of the blood god!"
"What? How!?" asked the Priestess, her voice rising in alarm.
"No more questions." replied the Acolyte, advancing on the Priestess, and kicking her over.
She grabbed the slack from the Priestess' chains and forced them around her neck, strangling the life from her with surprising strength.

Once the priestess had slumped to the floor, the Acolyte placed her hand upon the corpse and it burst into flames. She made sure to burn the priestess' journal too, as there was no telling how much information could be stored in there.
"Wonderful. Every passing day brings greater power as my God nears his triumph." noted the Acolyte, before she turned to leave, slipping out into an empty hall.

Events of the 5th of Felsite.
"Dead?" asked Ironblood, looking slightly dumbfounded. He had been enjoying a cup of tea and a crumpet with Xotes, who sat opposite him, catching up on stories from the Mountainhomes.
"Dead." confirmed Bomrek, with a grimace.
"How?" asked Xotes.
"Burning. Not sure how long it was before we found her." answered Bomrek.
"Bomrek, how did the priestess burn to death in a stone cell? Did she light her bed on fire? I know she had a tendency to destroy furniture, but that's taking it a little far." said Ironblood.
"As far as I can tell, there was no source of combustion. She just burned."
"Sorcery!" gasped Xotes.
"Probably." nodded Bomrek.

Ironblood sighed, leaning back in his chair against his famed artifact cabinet.
"I don't want sorcery in my fortress, Bomrek."
"Yes sir."
"Find out who was in the area, and talk to them!"
"Yes sir."
"And Bomrek?"
"Yes sir?"
"Trust no-one! I mean... apart from me, clearly."
"Yes sir. Of course sir. Everybody is a suspect!"
"Except me." said Ironblood, making certain.
"Uh, yes sir."
Bomrek left the room, and Ironblood leaned forward to contemplate his crumpet.
"I hope you won't take offense, Xotes, but I've rather lost my appetite."

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