Nin

Nin have the power to hear and understand the thoughts of rocks. Dismissively called "the order of bird-callers and fish-ticklers" [I p. 76]. Members of this order include Miphon. For secret conversations, the order members implant thoughts into the mind of a tortoise, where they can be read by others [I p. 78-9]. Unbeknownst to outsiders, members of Nin are trained in awesome powers - the sleeping secrets [I p. 114].