The tunnel past Dagir's drab chamber seemed dusty, unused, and long forgotten as they all walked its meandering ways. But in only a few minutes, Katerin could hear a hush of voices, Mordai's chiefly among them.

"I want to see what's going on," Katerin whispered. "Wait here a moment?"

Fykes gave her a squinting look, and she glanced to Kindra.

"We have no way of remaining quiet with her here. If you hear me speaking, come up."

Arjiah exhaled, "She's right. If they don't want to be interrupted, we might learn nothing."

"And what if we hear you fighting?" Fykes hissed in a whisper.

"Then come quicker," she said, offering him a smile to ease the tension in his shoulders.

Brazen gripped Katerin's hand momentarily, before she slipped into the shadows and glided forward to the tunnels next turn.

Light met her eyes in an almost blinding fashion, as three magical orbs illuminated a host of people standing before an arcane circle. Teleportation, Katerin thought, glimpsing the glow of the magic runes.

"We will not stand and do nothing, but you expect me to risk too much on your word alone." There was a woman's voice, and as Katerin turned her attention to it, she saw a high-blooded elf, she knew from the straight shoulders, that sharper than average ears, and tone of voice. The woman's long, straight hazel hair flowed in thick braids down her back. "Uhm'bantha has a plethora of its own issues."

"I agree," the next voice was not as refined as the elves, but still feminine, and came from a shorter human woman with a curly bob of dark hair atop her head. "I'm ready to believe you, and the Bay would be more than willing to help, but right now you've got nothing more than an amateur pickpocket."

There was a nod from the side. "A fistful of crumbs and sore wrists," a man said. He was bald, broad of chest, and just as tanned as the human woman, though his accent was decidedly Cadaran, thick and rumbling.

"We need proof of the armies movements, and until we have that there's nothing we can do." The elven woman waved her hand, and Katerin could see the glint of the rings she wore. Gold and intricate.

Mordai let out a lengthy sigh, and Katerin glimpsed him as he walked around the gathering of people. "By the time you have your proof you might be done for," he said, waving a hand. "It is a risk to not prepare."

"No one said we were unprepared," another man, who stood by the Cadaran, spoke. His voice held a refinement with a soft tone that was proven by the curl of his pale mustache as he stepped up beside the Cadaran.

"You were unprepared for an attack on Uhm'bantha," Mordai's tone was almost flippant, as he looked to the elf with one eyebrow raised.

"Nothing has ever broken the Silver Citadel's barriers," the elf said, her tone as cold as ice. "Those magics are old and sturdy."

"Dragons are older. Our enemy has powerful techniques and allies." Mordai's retort caused the elven woman to straighten.

"As of now, this Kryrial is only your enemy, dragon or not. You call again and have no proof." The Cadaran man was sympathetic and his shadow bowed its head.

"I can prove that Kryrial is the one who sent the dragon, because she is his very own wife. I can prove her location, and her other interesting... traits."

"How?" The elf turned, and Katerin could see the stern set of her mouth, and the smallest hint of wrinkles upon a near to flawless complexion.

When she spoke, Katerin noted that all the others in the room seemed to give her room, silence, and respect. Even Mordai refused did not interrupt her.

"Ilysa was the ruling half-elven queen of Hearth-Home, under the alias of Amarin Varsly. She was also better known as the reclusive regent of Falandor. She is a dragon, working under the order of Kryrial." Mordai smiled to all of them, and gestured to the side of the room, where Katerin could not see save for a flickering and pastel glow. "Take a peek if you don't believe me, though I don't suggest you step through."

The elf scoffed as the human woman half turned to regard the portal. "Why would she be allied with the likes of Kryrial? Ilysa has always acted with a large degree of dignity and honor."

"Maybe they share the same interest in worship?" Mordai suggested. "All I know is that they are fond of each other in the bedroom, and that he asked her to attack your citadel. She is too powerful to allow to live."

"That would be regicide," The mustached man said, shifting. "And dragons are no easy being to kill."

The elven woman sniffed, but nodded her agreement.

Mordai laughed. "You would not kill a queen to protect her city? You are vulnerable, Risage, and she will attack again. Everyone has heard the whispers of Ilysa's psychosis. If Kryrial can control her, he controls a vast threat, an unpredictable one."

He paced across Katerin's vision again, and she nearly sprinted to him. She knew better, of course, but that did nothing to sate the urge to stop him from digging whatever hole this was.

"I lack the power to fell a dragon of any standing, with my army as it is." The elf spoke, her impersonal tone turning sour.

The human woman squinted. "I can't do shit about any dragons if they're on land. I've got good ships, but cannons don't reach inside forests."

The two men stayed silent, as though they would rather do anything else than offer lives to face this dragon. Comparatively, Katerin would have guessed them to be of a lower standing, judging not only by their overall silence but also their dress and manner.

"You look as though you have a solution we are too blind to see, and your arrogance is beginning to chafe," said the elven woman, her hair gliding against her gown, as her head tilted. "What do you have to propose?"

Mordai flicked the chain that dangled from one of his horns. "You say you do not have the power to face this dragon, but I know of someone who can rid us all of this problem, without so much as any of you lifting a finger." Everyone was silent as Mordai waited for their anticipation to rise. "And the best news of all is that she's already here." Mordai turned around to face the tunnel in which Katerin hid. "Will you please come out? There's no reason to be shy, and we really could use your input."

Katerin's breath hitched in her throat, but on another glance over the gathered people, they were sparsely armed, except for Mordai. She bit her tongue, and glared, before she rose and stepped forward, resting her hands on her staff.

Mordai smiled turning back to his group with a flourish. "Let me introduce you all to the first lady of Itrea, Katerin Moonshadow. A decorated and celebrated fighter, and a woman with a strong relationship to Sahn-Raidar, and others in prominent places."

"Mordai," Katerin said, ignoring the others in the room. She could not care who they were in the moment.

"Well, get your friends out here. I know they're lurking, and I'm sure you overheard enough to know the topic."

"They'll be here momentarily. Mordai, you need to come with me."

"Where to?" The grin he gave her was one of challenge, and he winked.

"Back to Itrea. You're in over your head, but it you can right some of your wrongs, I'll help you. You can't keep this up."

Mordai scoffed, but took two steps back towards the teleportation circle as Fykes appeared at the tunnel entrance to the room. "As you can see, she's incredibly uncaring of danger, and she has the balls to back it up. She would be a grand ally to us all, in this endeavor."

"Mordai! I am not joking." Anger caused tears to well up, as she watched him act if nothing in the world was amiss. "Come with me."

"Would that I could," he said. "But that wouldn't work out for us. I have plenty of plans in the works, Kat. I don't need you to save me."

"Wait," Katerin called, as she heard the rest of her companions arriving. "What is it you're planning to do?"

"I will do what I always do." He did not glance to Fykes or Kindra, his eyes staying locked on her. "I'll say the right words, listen to the conversations I'm not supposed to hear, and relieve myself of this mess, without so much as a worry."

"Mordai, you can't lie to Kryrial! You can't lie to a dragon!" Her voice rose in pitch, and she was striding towards the teleportation circle as he disappeared into it.

Fykes grabbed her arm and tugged her back a few paces from the people who still stood between her and the teleportation circle. All she heard was the hum of magic for a long moment.

Katerin tore her eyes away from the circle, to regard the people before her.

The tanned, curly haired human woman watched her with a tilted head. "Kryrial really is a dragon?"

Katerin bit her lip and cursed herself momentarily. "Yes." Her hesitance was palpable in her tone.

"Maybe we should make introduction," the Cadaran man suggested. "I am Brigadine Johston."

"Risage Envons," said the elven woman, her nose upturned.

"Cartage, of Errwood Bay" said the human woman, her hazel eyes bright and curious and she offered a mock curtsy.

"Cecil Chaustwer, of Lemur," said the other man, looking the opposite in everything to the Cadaran he stood next to.

These were not simple merchants or townsfolk. They were the rulers of nations and provinces in Luminya. Errwood Bay, Lemur, and Cadara were the three most major ports on Luminya, and therefore some of the most influential people on the continent. And Risage... Risage was the head of The Silver Council of Uhm'bantha.

Katerin's mouth was tacky as she spoke. "Mordai already so kindly introduced me, so allow me to introduce my friends. Gregorio Fykes, Arjiah vow, Brazen Moonshadow, and Kindra."

She gestured to each one as she said their names, but her gaze lingered on Fykes for a moment longer than the rest and she hoped he could realize that she was begging for his assistance in the moment.

Fykes stepped forward, a placid smile on his face. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Risage's eyes narrowed. "Fykes? Your father owns holdings in the north of Ellispyre?"

"He does."

"You never chose to attend the Citadel." Her words were as much of a question as a statement.

"No, my lady. I am not... devout enough, nor talented enough for magics."

Cartage was staring at Katerin with a cute half crooked smile. "You look a little startled, Katerin."

"I wasn't expecting people of such stature, in a haunted old chasm, miles from any kind of civilization." Katerin forced her hands to release her cloak, as she straightened her shoulders and fixed her hair.

"If anything," Kindra said, "We would have expected people of low... stature, in Mordai's company."

"Do you mind if I ask why he called you all here?" Katerin's tone had adjusted, and her surprise had faded. From the corner of her eye she saw Brazen watching all the exits with a keen eye, one hand very near the haft of his axe.

"He sought me out for help," Risage said. "He spoke of a predicament with Kryrial and promised information in trade for his freedom."

"Wanted to warn us about the army's movements," Cartage said. "Said that they were moving for the ports. But I can't imagine they mean us harm. Why would the military of our own kingdom march on us? It's not like we were late on taxes, or tried to usurp the crown."

With her words, Cecil and Brigadine both stiffened.

"I don't know why they are moving, or if they are moving for the ports, but... I wouldn't be surprised it if was an attack. The king... Kryrial is far different from Bernard."

"Technically, he can't be that different," Arjiah interjected. "He's just a skilled manipulator."

The questioning eyes on Katerin pressed in on her, as she weighed her options in the mixture of magical lights. These people were potential allies. Powerful ones, in Risage's case. Here was a moment she could use her title for good. Open up possibilities she had never considered, and those very possibilities swarmed her thoughts like angry wasps. She looked into Risage's green eyes, to Cecil and Brigadine, and finally to Cartage, who looked more curious than serious. "I can tell you what we know."