'An Audience with Melcheron' and 'Malaise' Summary

Poison and Fleet stand on the balcony of a great hall, watching Aelthar demand to see the Hierophant. There are many Lords and Ladies of the different realms present, but the stone gargoyle guarding the Hierophant's chambers will not let anyone in. Poison sees Asinastra on the balcony too, who glares at her, but Fleet assures Poison that she is safe while under the Hierophant's protection.

Fleet takes Poison through a back door to meet the Hierophant. Fleet leaves, and the Hierophant tells Poison that she is his creation, and that in fact everything is written by him; it is all fantasy. Some, like Aelthar, were written by previous Hierophants, but Melcheron himself was responsible for Poison, the Black Marshes and her quest. Not many people know this. Even the Antiquarians think that...