Lyarea's vision was abruptly blocked as someone pushed past her. Almost immediately the voices flooded her mind, and her hands instinctively went to her ears. 

[i]Chrysalis! A sword! A living sword![/i]

[i]Brittle,[/i] another voice said. [i]But it learns from its blows and grows stronger for it. Honed by its fellows, quenched in blood...[/i] 

Lyarea looked in the direction the man had gone. After a moment, she put on her mask. 

[i]You think this is impressive?[/i] A third voice asked as she walked past a snoring girl. [i]I saw another just this morning. A real sword, not flesh and blood like this one here.[/i]

Lyarea tried to remember if this voice had told the truth before. There was a minority on the Council who always lied.

[i]I saw nothing like that,[/i] she thought. 

[i]It walked and talked like a man, but it was a sword just the same,[/i] the voice replied. [i]I think you'll find he's gone that way.[/i] Lyarea instinctively knew which direction it referred to, and found it was right. 

Making sure to stay a safe distance behind the man, she followed him.