"All right," he says, and closes his eyes, probing with the ring. It's difficult - he's running into interference, which is practically unheard of! - but he gets as much information out of it as he dares.

When he's done, he opens his eyes. "It appears to be psychic in nature, you're right. Some side-effect of our enemy's hold on Asti, like a...corruption of the peace that used to be at the turtle's head." But had even that been a manipulation, a trick of Malicant's to keep them compliant?