The party arrive in Charligan. Ceonred asks that they part ways for the time being, partly because it would be inappropriate for them to accompany her to the Officia Inquisitoria, partly because if things go poorly for her, she wishes for them to be well clear, and she would prefer those with unusual abilities (Bartholomew and Lyra in particular) give her colleagues a wide berth.
Upon entering the city, they learn that a mysterious person by the name of Sanction is wanted by city officials, though quickly determine that this person has gained somewhat of a reputation as a folk hero. No one seems certain of anything about Sanction, including their gender. Cei suggests Sevara accompany her to the Officia Inquisitoria, and the others go inquire around the docks about Sanction.
At the docks, Bartholomew learns from a fellow bard that Sanction is rumoured to have assassinated many high-ranking members of two of the city's major gangs. They briefly visit a Circle of Thorns magical goods dealer, and Ren acquires a new enchanted cloak.
Sevara and Cei make their way to the church campus. On the way, Cei's purse is snatched by a thief who is so fast they evade both their notice; Cei's sense of impending doom only increases.
On the bridge across the river to the Inquisitoria, Cei and Sevara are greeted by an old friend-- Emelius, the irreverent Purifier who was the closest Cei had to a friend during her training years. He greets her with grim tidings-- the previous Purifier General, who was responsible for Cei's unusual appointment to the role, died six weeks previously, and the infamous Kain, known as the Hound of Aeo, had taken his place. Among his actions was pulling Emelius from the field and making him essentially Kain's secretary. He warns Cei to be cautious; Cei realizes that her commission to investigate Loredana in Anger's Edge, and thus her apparent set-up, must have come directly from him. (She also realizes that had the thief not cut her purse, she never would have encountered Emelius. Aeo works in mysterious ways.)
Cei and Sevara proceed to Kain's office. Cei adopts a posture as rigidly correct, methodical, and by-the-book protocol-following as possible; she delivers her report and the full suite of evidence. When Kain inquires as to Loredana's fault, Cei states, essentially, the truth; she determined Loredana to be innocent of any wrongdoing, and as soon as she saw the girl's unusual beauty, realized that this was yet another case of a noble attempting to weaponize the Purifiers against a failed conquest, citing ample precedent of such, and Cei's annoyance that the Purifiers' time and resources should be wasted thusly. Cei also introduces Sister Sevara as a witness to all that transpired, including the horrors under the Bastien manor; Sevara corroborates Cei's account.
Strangely, Cei receives the impression that Purifier-General Kain is somehow pleased. It seems that he cannot fault her handling of the case, and in fact commends her, though he does imply that she (owing to the defects inherent to her sex) is too soft. He does not issue her any further orders. Cei and Sevara are glad to leave.
They reunite with their party, and discuss what to do next. Investigating Sanction seems like a compelling choice.