Katerin smoothed her shirt and took a steadying breath while wishing for a mirror. Arjiah and Fykes were right beside her, as they waited in the damp tunnel before the Resistance's meeting room. She had mostly recovered from her injuries fighting the demon, but her ribs were still fractured, and she was loath to let Urgist see. So they were tightly wrapped, and she had specifically chosen a flowing blouse to hide the appearance of the bandages.

Now all she had to do was remain composed and keep her temper on a short leash. As if that was the simple part. She did not like Urgist. Nothing about the woman seemed straightforward, and every word felt like a trap.

Eventually, the port in the door opened, revealing eyes that were not eleven. A human woman with blonde hair opened the door and smiled politely as they entered. The armored elf was nowhere to be seen.

Katerin glanced around the room to see only Gimery and Urgist as present, as the blonde stepped out.

"You've returned," Urgist spoke with a smile, though she did not rise from her chair.

"And your elf has departed," Katerin replied, making no move to sit without an invitation.

"He's out working and proving his loyalty," Gimery said, his tone gruff as it ever was.

Katerin raised one eyebrow.

"He's a member of the Claws, after all. Very loyal to the crown." Urgist gestured towards the chairs. "I do not see Sylvestris among you."

"Sylvestris is dead," Fykes said. He held out a chair for both Arjiah and Katerin, though he stayed standing.

Urgist frowned, but the look that passed across Gimery's face was almost one of relief.

"By whose hand?" Urgist's straightened and any hint of a welcome mood shifted.

"Mordai's," Katerin said. "Do you want the details? They aren't..." she tsked. "Pleasant."

"Please," Urgist gestured as if to hurry them.

"We found him in the chasm, naked and chained by the neck to a cage." Arjiah spoke with the clarity of someone who wanted no questions to be asked.

Urgist swallowed. "What?"

The tone of quiet anger in Urgist's voice could have made an entire crowd shiver, but Katerin refrained, if only because it would make the ache in her side all the much worse. "As far as I know, his last days were those of... a deeply mistreated animal."

Urgist took a slow, menacing breath. "And his body?"

"We entombed him in the chasm and paid proper respects." Fykes hands were clasped, but his posture belied to Katerin that he was not as relaxed as he seemed.

There was silence for several moments, and Urgist looked at the table before her, not turning back to regard Katerin or any of them. "Well, you didn't recuse him, as I intended. But we can send someone to recover his body. And I suppose, knowing his fate is a better outcome then not."

Katerin winced, internally. "You can't return to the chasm."

Urgist's expression seemed to ask why Katerin would think such a silly thing, as she raised an eyebrow.

"It... isn't there any longer."

"The chasm has closed?" Gimery asked, wearing a dumbfounded expression.

"Have you ever heard of Dagir Whatill?" Arjiah asked, with a sheepish smile.

"He was King of the Ruarden Hold, wasn't he?" Gimery's dumbfounded expression held just a hint of skepticism.

Fykes nodded. "He and his kingdom have returned."

"The chasm is gone because his castle and lands have returned to their place." Katerin kept her tone calm and watched Urgist's expression.

Gimery balked, looking shaken. "By who's making and what ability?"

"That's a confusing story," Katerin said.

"Long story short, he has returned, and is taking some time to understand his current lot," Fykes said.

"He could be an ally, if war is truly coming," Urgist said, biting her tongue.

"He could be. But for now, I'd ask that you wait to send anyone. The people... are a little shaken," Katerin said, noting the haste with which Urgist saw opportunity.

"You spoke to Dagir?" Gimery blinked, his eyelashes flickering like moths wings.

"At length." Katerin nodded. "We left on friendly terms with him. But his world views are ones that reflect an age that is no longer here, and I doubt he is ready to make alliances, yet." Katerin was not sure what Dagir might say, but she spoke more out of concern for Hearth-Home, then Dagir. He might entertain Urgist's notions, but Katerin would work to keep the two of them separate for as long as possible. She cleared her throat. "Regardless of Dagir and his standings, we did what you asked to the best of our ability."

Urgist nodded, tersely. "What about Mordai? Were you able to find him?"

"Yes. In the chasm. He escaped us." Katerin's throat tightened. "And I believe he has returned to the city."

Urgist smiled. "He has. I heard that just this morning."

Katerin's stomach twisted when she realized Urgist's game. Whatever she did not say, that was a chance that Urgist already knew. Her head ached from trying to out play this snake tongued woman. "And? What of the armies?"

Gimery pulled a piece of parchment from a pile on the table and held it out to Katerin. "Known whereabouts and educated guesses as to their path."

Katerin scanned the paper, taking as many mental notes as she could. A force the size of twenty-some thousand men was split off in all directions. One to the north east, likely heading for Meadard. One to the south east, pegged for Errwood bay, One to the north west, headed for Cadara, and one heading south, as if for Lemur. She scanned the guesstimated numbers of each contingent and noticed that most of the Claws had stayed in the city. Additionally, she noticed that a fifth smaller force headed straight north, a direct but punishing path toward nowhere but small towns, Ruarden Hold, and Lagamar. "Why do you suspect the ports? They could be heading to any of the towns between."

"They have razed every small settlement they have come across and showed no signs of stopping. They haven't bothered to gather from the ashes, either. Their course seems almost too direct." Urgist sounded uncomfortable. "We are doing out best to send word to the respectable leaders of all settlements, so that they may choose to fight or flee when the armies show up on their doorstep."

I can help with that, Katerin thought. "Why Meadard and not Lagamar?"

"Kryrial is no fool. Lagamar is nearly impenetrable from this side. The dwarves could simply close the tunnel. Meadard is a port, no matter how small, and a much easier target."

"I thought it was on a cliff face?" Fykes asked. "Sounds defensible to me."

"It is. But they only have militia. Compared to Lagamar, they aren't much."

Katerin handed the parchment back to Gimery. "What can you tell me about the fifth force?"

Urgist shrugged. "It's small. A few wagons, but not more than a thousand men. And I can't see any specific route from where they currently are."

"What of Kryrial's plans?" Arjiah asked.

Gimery grumbled. "Other than murder and war we haven't a clue."

Urgist gritted her teeth. "He's looking for something in the mountains. We think that's why Mordai was sent to the chasm. He had tunneling and mining done here," Urgist pointed on the map that was tacked to the table, near the south-western most point of the Alswither mountains.

Katerin said nothing on the mention of Mordai, but a shivery feeling crept up the back of her spine.

There is more than one Reclaimer in the world. Lodyne's voice was sickly sweet in her mind, but she worked as hard as she could to ignore it.

"If the armies take the port cities, it's obvious they want ships. Am I wrong in assuming that Edelocke, Rastridge, and Uhm'bantha would be the targets?" Arjiah asked.

"They are the most civilized. But they may also want to strike Uhrwest," Gimery said.

Katerin bit her tongue, wanting to argue that Uhrwest already fell under Luminya's domain. Though, she supposed it did not matter if Hearth-Home's armies were already moving toward the continent's own ports, burning its villages as they went.

Urgist cleared her throat. "So. It seems we have a completed bargain. As of now, I have no additional information, and you have nothing to bring me."

"A deal well struck and completed, then," Fykes said.

"I have one more question, Urgist," Katerin said.

"I might answer."

"If the Varsly heirs return to claim their throne, would you allow it?" Katerin's focus was on nothing but the woman's eyes.

"I only want what is best for the kingdom. I would wish to be in... an important seat, among our new rulers, however, to ensure that events such as these do not repeat in my lifetime." Urgist's smile was serpentine.

"I would welcome any of the heirs back," Gimery said. "The sins of Kryrial are not theirs to bear."

Katerin took their words with a grain of salt, not fully trusting either of them in the moment.

Lodyne chuckled in her mind. So cautious, child. They are not such snakes as you believe. Only people using chaos to their own advantage.

That qualifies as quite snake like to me, Katerin replied. "In that case, if I learn anything that can help you help this city, I'll send word. I'd like for us to be on amiable terms."

"We are here to help. You have shown that you have a common goal. I see no reason why we should not continue this in the future." Urgist clicked her tongue. "One more thing, that might be pertinent for you. I managed to get someone inside the castle, and they found something quite interesting. I'd be curious to know if you've ever seen it's like." She pulled another parchment from the stack and held it out.

Upon the paper was a hastily sketched image of a woman, hands clasped before her in a calm manner, with her head tilted back. Behind her, a dragon's maw was open, larger than the woman and commanding all the attention of the drawing. Strange symbols decorated the rubbing, that seemed to give the image the illusion of movement.

"It was a shrine my scout found, stained by blood, and other... less pleasant things." Urgist sniffed.

Katerin showed the parchment to both Arjiah and Fykes, but they both shook their heads. "I have no idea what it could be, or, rather, who." Katerin frowned. "But I will see what I can find, should I have an opportunity."

"I would like to know. Any bit of knowledge can help."

They spoke for a few more minutes about the city, and the Resistance's plans and preparations. It was mostly a show of face, and ways to keep the ever growing tension off the backs of the people. Which Katerin could appreciate, but she felt in her gut that the only reason Urgist did what she did, was because she would be the face the people plastered their hope to.

Katerin let her shoulder sag as soon as they had left the room. "Are you ready to go home, now?" she asked Arjiah, jokingly.

"Well, yes. But I thought we handled that very well." Arjiah smiled.

"I don't know what to think when she speaks. Half the time it seems earnest, and the other half makes me feel as if I looked away that she would stab me for five coins," Katerin's tone belied all the unease she felt.

"Likely, she would. If she needed those five coins." Fykes chuckled. "But, right now she needs us, I think. Or wants to use us."

"She strikes me as someone who likes to be smart and careful. Using us is likely both," Arjiah said.

Katerin groaned. "You two are far better at this than me."

"We've just had practice. There're dozens of snotty nobles like that, in Rastridge alone."

"And in the Amerlyian cities." Arjiah squeezed her arm as they began the long, uncomfortable trek out of the sewers.

They sat at their table in the Boars Backstrap, and Katerin's fingers tapped impatiently on the table. It had been a ten-day, and things were being to feel far too still. She had not seen Mordai again, and whenever she walked the city, some part of her hoped to.

She had spent most of her time conferring with Risage, Cartage, Brigadine and Cecil, warning them of the incoming armies. Risage was pleased about the dragon and had offered her thanks. Cartage was under the impression that if the armies tried to attack, she would evacuate her people to the floating portion of the city and release it from its land dock, until help could arrive. That, or she would fight on the water, where her people were more comfortable.

Lemur was backed in a proverbial corner. They did not have enough boats to fully evacuate their people, and so Cecil had decided to stay, fortify his city, and fight while sending the women and children away, if the need arose. Cadara was in the same position.

"Where do we even start?" Fykes sighed, rubbing his temples.

"I asked Dagir to send someone to see what Kryrial was mining for, and he said he would let me know as soon as he knew."

"But there's the armies," Brazen said.

"And that shrine," Arjiah said. "I've found nothing about it in my studies. My best guess is that it's an ancestor of Kryrial's."

"And also, the armies," Kindra said, in a wry tone.

"And the Varsly's," Fykes said. "They're important, too."

"I have no idea where to look for the Varsly's. Urgist has a far better network for that." Katerin frowned at that thought. "As for the armies, we have no idea which one will attack first, and I am worried that it could be a distraction for something in the city." She threw up her hands. There were a thousand choices before her, and each felt like the wrong one.

"So we're just gonna sit here?" Kindra raised one eyebrow.

"No. I will go talk with Halemeda and see what she's learned." Katerin had always relied on the Tower's guidance, and so it felt like the right move to see the headmistress, and learn what she could, before trouble whisked her away.

Katerin sat in Halemeda's office, clutching a hot cup of tea. She waited for the woman to return from whatever business kept her.

In another few minutes, Halemeda entered from her side door, dressed in a long grown, that was split very far up one side, with a pair of white gloves that wrinkled at her elbows. Her lips were colored dark red, her cheeks faintly pink, and her hair was pinned and curled in such a way Katerin assumed it had taken hours.

"Katerin!" Halemeda kissed her on the cheek, leaving a stain. "You waited."

"I'm not so impatient as I used to be," she said, with a chuckle. "That's quite a look for a business meeting."

"Oh," Halemeda grinned. "It's always easier to get what you want when you dress for the occasion. Not to mention a well dressed and intelligent woman is always more intimidating." She took a seat at her desk, and the teapot came to her hand with a gesture.

Katerin waited while she poured the tea and added her usual cream and sugar.

"What have you come to talk about?"

"A lot," Katerin admitted.

"Do tell. I love a good story."

"This one isn't all that pleasant, but I'd like your input."

Katerin began her story from after she had seen Halemeda last, explaining what she knew about Kryrial, his age and power, what she knew of the army's movements, and her thoughts on the plan of attack. She told Halemeda of Dagir, and her talks with Risage, and of all the chaos that seemed to be piling up. She told her of the Varsly heirs, and how she had failed in every attempt to find anything about them. She told her of Mordai, too, in the moment divulging more than she knew she should have. By the time she finished, her tea cup was empty, and she sighed.

"Katerin," Halemeda's tone was stern. "How do you unravel a ball of yarn? Do you take all the loops and just begin pulling them apart?"

"What? That doesn't sound—"

"It isn't," Halemeda's face shown incredulous. "You take one stand, and you work with it alone, until you find the end. From there, the knots come apart like silk comes off a prostitute."

"You're saying I'm making a mess of this."

"I'm saying that knowing all of this does you no good, if you do not focus on one thing. Mordai should not matter. You are too conflicted there. The shrine does not matter, unless you believe it gives Kryrial power. The armies are the concern of others and spreading information is your best and most helpful way of combating that." Halemeda's face softened. "Not even I can be in more than one place at a time. We are not that skilled with magic."

"So, I should focus only on Kryrial?" Katerin sipped her tea.

"You said yourself he is searching for something. If you learn what that is, you have an advantage."

"And if I find it first, that's even better," Katerin said, nodding.

"There's the prodigy I trained." Halemeda winked.

"Oh. I wanted to tell you, as well, that Gimery has been at the Resistance meetings I've encountered."

Halemeda lips formed a pout. "Oh, I know."

"Is he there for you?"

"Yes and no. He doesn't think he is, but I learn plenty through his excursions." Halemeda bit one painted lip. "Be careful of Urgist. She is an opportunist in the most sour of ways."

"I had thought as much." Katerin bit her lip. "You really think I'm too conflicted over Mordai?"

"One of men's many talents is conflicting us, Katerin. And you loved him, once. No one follows trouble like that without a reason of the heart."

"I never thought him capable of things like this, but it seems I am the only one."

"He had a horror of a beginning in this life, my dear." Halemeda's face grew saddened.

"He always has had a desire for more, and a righteous anger to fuel it."

"You know about his mother?"

"I convinced Bernard to spare his life. They wanted to execute the child for sins of a being that was not even present in this world. I told the king that day that if he killed a child, I would show him what hell was like."

Katerin blanched. "You said that to... Kryrial?"

"I doubt it was my words that swayed him, as much as it was the people in the square. He needed his reputation, and despite the atrocities against Mordai's mother, the people gave the king great credit for taking Mordai as a ward."

Katerin's stomach soured and her face twisted.

Halemeda's delicate face pinched, sympathetically. "Politics, darling. Nasty as any battle, and they bite just as deeply in a conscience." She waved a hand. "Let us spend the rest of our visit speaking of better things."