“Archbishop Vanterville, it is a pleasure to see you again. My secretaries mentioned you have an urgent request for me.” High Orator Prallim said without even looking up from her papers.

“Uuuuum- yes. Your Highness, I have concerns regarding your use and deployment of the Hands.” Vanterville replied, punctuated with the loud creak as his massive weight settles into the chair.

“Is that so?” Prallim’s eyes dart up. “Please, by all means, present your case.”

“I oversee the Archdiocese that the 6th and the 9th Hands were deployed to. I believe it should be the Archbishop’s duty to assign and deploy the Hands since it is military activity being conducted in my territory.”

Prallim’s eyes have not left Vanterville’s fat sweaty face. “The Hands belong to me Archbishop. Would you have these same reservations if I were to mobilize the Legion?”

“There was extensive damage done in Eden’s Way; two of the Fingers even died in the encounter. One of them was a First Finger. I believe that there are much simpler ways to achi-“

Prallim’s hand shifts. She only raised two fingers. Before the Archbishop’s eyes even track the movement, a thin wire is wrapped around his neck and pulls his head against the chair. The wire too thin his neck too fat for him to get his fingers underneath to find any purchase.

There is blood but not a lot. Prallim would not have permitted a lot of it.