The plan had been genius in its simplicity. It had struck right on the Council’s most vulnerable nerve. The desire to keep everything under wraps. T...e desire to keep the existence of the Council hidden from most Untethered. the desire to keep the existence of Untethered from the mortal world. All of a sudden, the house of cards that the Council had built for centuries was threatening to crumble down before their very eyes.The mortal world didn’t pose any physical threat to the Untethered. No,. Whole.I was balanced on a chair reaching for the top of the bedroom wall when I noticed the smell: flowers, herbs… lavender? I felt the presence – close, surrounding me. My heart pounded but I willed myself not to fear it. After all, why should I? It hadn’t hurt me. On the contrary, the last visit had felt good... so good I’d been almost disappointed by its failure to visit again.It was here now. Scared, but intrigued, I drew a deep breath. I’m ready.The entity closed in. It wrapped around me,. “Of course, the interrogators had misheard, or mistook, what was said. The prisoner had not said ‘Pont de Cherie’ but ‘Pondicherry’, which is a French trading enclave in India. The French already have had dealings with some of the native rulers in India; the late Tipoo Sultan for one, and there are many more disgruntled rajahs and maharajahs who have no love for the British in general, and John Company in particular. India would be a fertile region to raise an army to attack British trade and. I was in another world entirely. What did you want me for?’ ‘Well it’s nearly lunchtime and Dad’s saying he’s hungry.’ ‘Is he? Oh, OK, right, I’d better get on with things then. I don’t suppose you’d mind finishing the washing-up for me, would you Kay?’ ‘No, I don’t mind.’ Kay looked at her mother curiously, her eyes narrowed as she considered something. ‘Are you sure you’re alright? I mean, you really haven’t been yourself the last couple of weeks.’ ‘Really darling, I’m absolutely fine..