“Anytime you’re ready,” Alfarr said, gesturing for her to cast.


    The others had weapons ready as the Gate snapped into existence, the strange void of Limbo drinking at the reality of the Outlands. The Plane’s effect ceased as Julia’s will pushed against the chaos, and a stone platform and breathable air formed beyond.


    “More tricks up your sleeve,” muttered Alfarr as Torm beat him through the Gate with Yngvarr following on their heels.


    I should spend those points.


    Vitality and determination washed through her as Endurance and Willpower received most of the points. Willpower fed into Sora Master and caused a jump in Defence, while Endurance compounded with all her levels to add fifteen thousand to Health.


    “Lady, you look pleased to be setting off,” Rana said, hesitating as he approached the Gate. “Do you wish to go first?”


    Shooing him ahead without explanation, Julia followed and closed it behind her. Enchantments glowed around Alfarr and Yngvarr, though protection from the void was presently unneeded. It took only a moment for Julia’s Planar Sense to orientate and provided a surprise. The swirling music from Planar Sense pointed neither at the Maelstrom or followed the whirlpool’s line. The strongest of the melodies directed her to a mountain range floating amid the chaos.


    “There is a pathway leading from somewhere over there,” Julia stated, pointing at the course. “More of Limbo’s odd nature at work.”


    “You have seen the Spawning Stone and are seeking it. It will cause Limbo’s mutable nature to oblige your will with a faster path,” Yngvarr remarked, peering in the direction she’d gestured. His tone was a recitation as if it was something he’d read.


    “At least three can see in this gloom,” Alfarr said. Not expecting a response, Julia saw an energy flare before his eyes glowed.


    “There is a floating mountain range toward where I sense it, but it’s kilometres away. Should I teleport us there?” Julia asked, glancing between them. Seeing the others nod, they reappeared on the lowest slope of the rocky mountain range, the sensation from Planar Sense growing stronger even as Julia took in the surroundings. Gullies, sharp drops, and steep slopes covered in loose shale formed the area, denying easy passage. A quick attempt to adjust some rocks failed, as another will imposed itself, and everything stayed the same.


    “These aren’t a random occurrence; something is maintaining the range. I can’t even adjust the rocks,” cautioned Julia, hesitant to reach out with Telepathy. “Whatever maintains it is has a firm view of how this mountain range needs to appear.”


    “The Flight options it is then,” Yngvarr said, motioning to a fall of loose shale. “Doesn’t look like we’d have sure footing landing most places.”


    When the spells were in place, Julia picked a spot to shift their location. The direction of their travel taking them deeper into the mountains and drawing a frown from Rana. After a dozen kilometres or more of travel, when cresting a high ridgeline, they set down without a word needed. Instead of yet more rough terrain, they landed on a perfectly smooth plateau, wards Julia hadn’t seen on their approach now curving high overhead. A glance behind them showed the ward started at the plateau’s edge.


    The ward’s dome crested high above the fortress that now lay before them. Rising from the plateau, it loomed the exterior walls alone some thirty metres high. The wall shadowed many bone piles sitting at its base and on various approaches. The creator had set a silvery metal gate in the closest section with sharp ridges crisscrossing its face. Eight-metre-tall archways connected the interior to balconies along its exterior, showing four levels above the outer wall’s height.


    “Ward.”


    The single word from Julia as she motioned behind them drew Yngvarr’s attention.


    “It’s an inverted barrier. I can’t tell all it’s doing, but it would be invisible from outside. Its primary focus is to keep things in,” Yngvarr said, forced himself to remain calm.


    “Fuck!” Julia spat the word as she studied the power in place.


    “Well gosh,” Torm quipped in return, earning an eye-roll.


    Did Sarah share memories of every show she liked?


    “Hush, Muttley,” grumbled Julia, groaning as Torm snickered familiarly.


    “Both of you hush,” Rana said, eyeing them ruefully.


    Alfarr glanced at Julia and motioned to the fortress questioningly, and Julia shrugged helplessly in return.


    “Looks like a Storm Giant fortress, but not sure what they’d be doing here,” offered Rana, attention divided between the fortress and the open expanse of the plateau.


    “Having a feast apparently,” Torm muttered, his attention on the bones.


    “They’re not always looking for trouble unless you push into their homes uninvited,” retorted Rana blandly, even while holding an arrow notched.


    “Could just be telling folks to keep off their lawn,” Julia said as she considered the bones. “Some look Slaadi and others humanoid, but I’m not an expert.”


    “No movement around the place, any sense of minds inside?” asked Yngvarr hesitantly as he cast a spell.


    “Haven’t wanted to risk checking,” Julia replied before motioning forwards. “The sense is below ground level now.”


    “Are we sure it’s under the fortress?” Rana asked nervously. “I’ve not had cause to fight Giants before.”


    “I can always teleport to one side of the Fortress and see if it leads past, but we’d still face getting out,” Julia commented.


    “Might not want to split up,” Alfarr dryly observed. “Though I’d prefer not to tangle with a fortress of Giants if they’re involved in keeping a mountain range intact.”


    Julia focused for a moment and shook her head when the effort was futile.


    “It’s obvious this place was willed into existence along with the fortress,” stated Julia firmly. “I tried to cut a thin gulley in the rock with no luck.” Shaping claws, she ran her toes across the smooth terrain and saw the gouges reforming after a moment.


    “It’s a fortress for us, but for Giants, it might only hold twelve,” offered Torm. “Though they could be significantly stronger than Fire Giants we fought.”


    “Or it might not be Giants-” Rana stopped as the top of a colossal helm showed beyond the wall’s lip. A few moments later, the armoured figure was visible above the wall line, standing nearly seven metres tall. His helm was open-faced, and his massive features were clean-shaven. The armour plates he wore looked almost knightly with their silver gleam.


    Looking in their direction, with a blade almost his height casually held in one hand, he motioned them forwards. In True Sight, the sword and armour alike glowed with a weave of Order and Primordial Mana. His Soul possessed none of the cruelty she’d seen in the Fire Giants, though affections directed towards family and comrades wouldn’t automatically translate to their cause.


    [Name: Suibhne


    Species: Fomorian


    Class: Guardian / Order Guard / Order Bulwark


    Details: The Fomorian tribes are among the oldest Giants within the Titan’s realm. They sought refuge when their kinfolk started showing distortions of body and mind. The Guardian Prestige Class combines Fighter and Ranger at level 70. Order Guard details are unavailable at your current Skill level. Order Bulwark details are unavailable at your current Skill level.]


    “Three Prestige Classes, Guardian, Order Guard, and Order Bulwark, but the last two aren’t providing details,” Julia relayed to the others.


    “That could be promising or trouble since Sidero has the Hunter Class following Order,” offered Torm, causing Julia to pause in concern.


    “He’s not waving the sword at us,” Alfarr offered, as he smiled and gave a friendly wave in response to another beckon.


    As Alfarr spoke, the fortress’ gates cracked open wide enough to enter, prompting Julia to mutter at their motion.


    “Welcome to my parlour said the spider to the fly.”


    “They don’t seem to be offering us a lot of choices,” Torm stated and started forward.


    “Will the wards let us open a Gate or Teleport out?” enquired Rana, clearly hesitant to follow Torm.


    “Not something I’d want to risk; they’re meticulously constructed. Honestly, I’m not sure how they’re even keeping the wards intact within Limbo,” cautioned Yngvarr, still focused on the wards.


    Julia joined Torm in walking towards the fortress and heard the others following along behind.


    “Trusting my judgement?” asked Torm, not taking his gaze from the gates ahead.


    “What’s the worst that can happen?” Julia enquired, deliberately keeping her tone lighthearted.


    “We all die horribly,” called Alfarr at the question, and Julia just flipped him a bird.


    “Peanut Gallery, I’ve already died,” retorted Julia, and at the snicker from Alfarr, added an aside. “Twice.”


    As they grew close to the wall, Julia could see things crawling within the piles of bones. A rodent-like creature nearly the size of her arm peered from a Slaadi skull, and dove through a shadow as she examined it.


    “Void scavengers,” Torm murmured, “they’ll always find something to eat.”


    When they drew close, another male Fomorian clad in similar armour pulled the gate open. The only difference Analysis displayed was his mouthful of a name - Mathghamhain.


    “Our Liège will see you now. If the Fallen tries anything, none of you will leave here,” Suibhne stated. “You will follow me to the audience chamber, or you may remain outside the wall.” He spoke in clear Celestial, the words carrying a timbre and volume that reverberated through their bones.


    The finality in the last words squashed Julia’s temptation to ask if they could just leave.


    “May I ask who your Liège is?” questioned Yngvarr, his tone cautiously polite.


    “He will determine what you know, and what occurs next. He can hear all within his halls, be careful he doesn’t take offence at your questions.”


    Suibhne hadn’t even stopped to reply, but at least his long strides weren’t faster than needing a jog to keep up. When they passed through the fortress’ inner gates, they found the interior to be an enormous cathedral hall with a shaft plunging downwards, nearly filling its width. Curved stairs descended from the fortress’ upper levels around its edges and continued into the depths, cut to a Giant’s size and promising a climb to traverse. Each stair was a floating platform, clearly disconnected from everything around them.


    “Might we Fly down?” Rana asked, peering over the edge as Suibhne moved towards the first downward step.


    Suibhne just stepped off and floated downwards with a shrug, but True Sight showed Julia enchantments in his armour activating as he did. Suibhne watched unconcerned as they set spells in place and followed his descent, the bottom some six hundred metres down. Around the shaft decorated walls showed carvings of complex wilderness scenes or niches containing statues of creatures large and small.


    Whoever is maintaining this must hold every line in their mind.


    Suibhne continued forward along a corridor that dwarfed him, and Julia felt a breeze when they reached the bottom. The passage ahead of them was drawing in air for long minutes before the draft stilled then shifted back against them. Walls along the passageway held more masterful carvings, with scenes showing caverns, mountains, forests, and even some Planar locations like the Spire’s surrounds. The light ahead of them slowly brightened and gained a rippling silver hue that emanated from an immense chamber ahead. When they entered, they found themselves within an annex on the upper slope of a massive cavern that contained the light source.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The cavern could have swallowed aircraft carriers, but the primary occupant made it seem a barely spacious room. Claw tips larger than a Fomorian caught Julia’s eye as it reached out to touch a point of light, shifting it from gold to silver. A robed and hooded female Fomorian clad in grey robes with golden runes inlaid the material watched its selection. The action drew attention to the outline of a massive ‘Go’ board, glowing points in mid-air, offering them a grid of fifty-one on each side. The game looked barely begun with the small number of points changed from gold to silver or obsidian.


    Lights all about the chamber reflected from a Dragon’s silvery form, making it appear almost glowing. A wing far larger than the entire town of Eyrarháls twitched momentarily as the weight of its gaze brushed by them. Only shifting patterns on its eye hinting where it was looking before the pressure of its attention hit. Its snout appeared broad and almost snub compared to the rest of its Godzilla-dwarfing form. Spikes rose from its muzzle, blending into its broad sweep that ran back past house size eyes to a crest larger than some stadium’s seats. Its hide was smooth as a casting, rather than the scales Julia had expected a Dragon to possess. The silvery metallic coat sat tight across giant strands of muscle, stretching from wing bones to clawed forehands and the scooped shovel tipped tail that rested atop hillsides of treasure.


    The chamber’s floor was a great lake of metals, gems, and precious objects large and small. While most of the contents appeared unenchanted, others glimmered or shone like blazing fires, both fair and foul alike. Power thrummed within the chamber’s air and Julia didn’t chance Analysis on the Dragon, though when she directed it towards the hooded Fomorian, the pressure nearly earned a scream.


    [Name: Morgana


    Species: Arcane Drake


    Class: Magus / Arch-Magus / Arcane Ruler / Hierophant


    Details: Since completing the Ritual of Arcane Ascension a hundred centuries ago, she has served as the Voice of Claughuthruuazex. Magus is a Prestige Class gained from combining Wizard, Priest, Artificer, and Alchemist at level 90. Arch-Magus details are unavailable at your current Skill level. Arcane Ruler details are unavailable at your current Skill level. Hierophant details are unavailable at your current Skill level.]


    As the Dragon’s attention shifted towards them, it halted as Morgana turned a point to obsidian in reply. Suibhne had moved ahead of them as they’d stopped in shock. By the time Torm prompted Julia to move again, Suibhne was already some forty metres ahead, following a gulley in the hoard. No one dared to speak even when thirty metres away, Suibhne finally gestured for them to halt on a raised grey stone dais clear of any treasure.


    “Why do Celestials and Mortals travel with a Fallen?” Morgana asked. Her attention finally diverting from the ‘Go’ board after long minutes. “You are neither corrupted nor bound.”


    She rose from her perch on a chest bigger larger than a truck while turning to address them. Though when Julia tried to reply, her mouth wouldn’t open.


    “My Liège will not hear your words Fallen, and the others best speak the Truth.”


    “Julia is Fallen not from her own choice or actions, but those of others,” declared Torm. “She seeks to gain her freedom from this state.”


    “Her Allegiance with Balnérith is obvious young Vargr Drangijaz despite her continued attempts to conceal it from us. Unfortunately, the concealment of her thoughts remains unbroken, or this conversation would be unnecessary. It is often with Fallen that they’ll blame their fate on others. They are always innocent, are they not?” countered Morgana, expression twisting with distaste while her gaze bore down. “My Liège has encountered two in nearly a million years who redeemed themselves. They both started by accepting how far they had strayed from their paths. Such does not come when one blames others for your fate.”


    Julia groaned mentally and snapped the glamour of concealment among other protections she’d set in place.


    Great, taking offence when I didn’t even know we were going to meet.


    “She hides the Sigil to conceal it from others, with no disrespect towards your Liège. Julia has reason to keep it hidden, and they forced it upon her, like her current state. Her story isn’t mine to share, and trying to force it from her would likely earn silence,” Torm stated. When he gave Julia a cautious glance, he nodded in relief when she motioned him to continue. “Please, Julia is worthy of better treatment than this. I ask your Liège’s indulgence to hear us out; Julia has a unique history. Just as you have cause for suspicion, she has reason to distrust those trying to push for a particular action. She’s removed the concealment you found offensive, but the protections on her mind aren’t in her control to remove. While she can touch another’s thoughts, I’m sure you’d take such action as an attack.”


    Hearing the cautioning hint in Torm’s voice, Julia gave him a flat look and just shook her head in frustration.


    “Which she will not try,” Torm stated, and at his words, received a firm nod in response.


    “She was key to rescuing me from permanent destruction through becoming an offering to a Dark Power,” said Rana. As he moved to stand beside Julia, he placed a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of support. “The Lady of the Forest and the Elven Celestial Courts favour her endeavours to gain freedom. She has no allegiance with Balnérith. She forced the Sigil on Julia, and I know she’s asked a number about removing it. I don’t have the right to serve as Julia’s voice, but I can speak for what I know. I’ve seen her followers seek to improve things for many good people and fight against evil. Isn’t that something precious to Adamantine Dragons such as your Liège?”


    Morgana stood clearly, waiting for a time as well before she relayed another question.


    “Would you share your recollection of these events?” Morgana asked, gesturing to Rana.


    “Willingly,” Rana responded, immediately stepping forward to the dais’ edge.


    “You speak with haste; with your mind untrained such will be painful,” scolded Morgana, her fingers twitching as if she wanted to clip his ear.


    “I’ve endured pain before. I would do so again in thanks for Julia’s aid to myself and others,” argued Rana, his posture resolute.


    “Many in the Norse Pantheon also view her with favour,” Torm stated as he glanced between Morgana and the Dragon. As the Dragon’s dismissive snort caused a gale that sent coins and treasures tumbling, he and Alfarr blinked in shock.


    What?


    “My Liège cares little for the fleeting Deities of Humans. He remembers before your master, and his ilk received sanctuary from dissolution. The Titan offered a place to the Elven Courts. We know the human Deities had to beg for haven,” said Morgana. At her comment, she motioned as if brushing off Torm’s support, and Julia found herself still unable to speak.


    Oh boy, grumpy old Dragon is dissing them all.


    “They’re not even an Elder Wyrm’s age and possess limited providence over a single world. Look at the damage a few mundane Dragons having a spat caused their humanity when the Mortals weren’t their true focus.” Morgana continued, her dismissive tone had turning scornful.


    “What?” Alfarr blurted out. “We were told they sought to destroy us.”


    “They wanted humanity out of the road so they could squabble without interference,” Morgana scoffed. “Their little spat only lasted a few centuries once they truly started.”


    As she directed her words at Alfarr, a surprised grunt of pain drew Julia’s attention to Rana. His skin paling as lines of agony etched across his face, Julia stepped forward to return his gesture of support and saw worse still. Heedless of the danger as his eyes began purpling with burst veins, Julia pushed Ki into her hands and caught his as they rose towards his face. As her hands glowed with the golden light, the pain wracking his face ceased, and her healing helped speed his recovery. When she stood and tried to avoid frowning at the Dragon, he snorted in amusement.


    “My Liège recognises your Soul. Lady Morning, you have some explaining to do,” growled Morgana, shifting from a Giant to matching Julia’s height as she strode towards them. “You smell of concern for the Ljósálfar rather than fear for yourself. Did you ally with Balnérith along with the Lóm? fools?”


    “That was more than just painful,” objected Julia, stepping between Morgana and Rana, surprised she could actually speak but managing her objections all the same.


    “I would have endured far worse to aid you,” Rana stated, resting a cautioning hand on her shoulder. “You should have kept your secret. I was showing him the care you had for others.”


    Okay, so it’s a male Dragon. I will not ask how you can tell.


    “Balnérith tricked the Lóm?. My situation is very different, and until recently, my Soul wasn’t in the Titan’s realms,” Julia stated, and not liking the bruising still within his eyes spent Ki healing.


    “Explain,” snapped Morgana, though it was unclear if the hostility in her tone was part of the message or her personal feelings.


    “We intended no trespass on your Liège’s domain. We were seeking a route to fight Slaadi near the Spawning Stone; it’s been fertilising their eggs faster. Can you please just let us go on our way?” asked Julia.


    “You crossed terrain that was maintained,” argued Morgana, halting only a few metres away from the dais’ edge.


    “If the inverted wards hadn’t kept us on the plateau, we would never have entered the fortress. Planar Sense was guiding us across the range as a route to the Spawning Stone,” Julia said. When she rechecked Planar Sense, its notes went directly beyond the Dragon. As Julia’s gaze shot off to the side, Morgana turned to glance off in the same direction.


    Is it down here? Not sure I’m game to ask.


    “My Liège has a fishing hole, but you should never have been able to sense it from outside the wards,” Morgana stated suspiciously before turning to regard the Dragon fully. Pressure within the chamber seemed to ebb and flow till finally she nodded in acknowledgement. Chairs suddenly grew around a table as the dais’ form shifted, and the light in the chamber changed as the Dragon vanished. Coins and precious treasures cascaded across hillsides as its weight no longer pinned them in place.


    A silver-haired male Elf wearing a simple shirt and pants stood near the dents the Dragon’s forehands had left in the mounds. His skin tone was pale white, without a hint of alternate shades the Elven races Julia had seen possessed. The exquisite features couldn’t hold attention compared to the irresistible force of personality in his silver-hued gaze.


    “Sit.”


    The word was scarcely a whispered command that should have been inaudible but sounded as he’d murmured in her ear as refreshment appeared on the table, the Dragon’s new form reappeared beside it. A chair moved itself to let him sit, and he gestured for them to do likewise.


    “I dislike taking this awkward form, but another serving as my Voice is insufficient.”


    Each word was the same whisper and carried hesitation, clearly the Dragon was unused to normal speech. His attention remained on Julia, and he nodded to a chair close by her as she glanced at the others.


    “Sit, I would hear more, as you do not seem to remember me, Lady Orhêthurin. Call me Azex.”


    The same name Yngvarr found, and Azex could crush us like bugs.


    When Julia sat, she nodded respectfully to Azex, and the others followed suit.


    “As you said Azex, I don’t remember you and I don’t even remember having that name. Please call me Julia; I’m still figuring out what name I should use in this existence,”


    “Julia, it has a human sound but very well. Should I share highlights of our history first while you decide what to share with me?” Azex offered as Julia struggled under his gaze.


    “You’re the host I feel that would be rude,” argued Julia, confused by the Dragon’s behaviour as Morgana moved to stand behind his chair.


    “Rude to ask perhaps, but I offered,” Azex said, pausing for a moment and his gaze’s power eased from Julia. “You were the only Anar to my knowledge that was never reborn. My many times over grandparents composed tales of awakening to the Song of yourself and others. Mother invited you to my hatching since you had rescued her from Illithid slavery when she had only recently left her parent’s nest. You helped end my father’s suffering at her request after Asmodeus struck him down with a curse that broke his mind and Soul. My Oath, that if something has truly forced you into this state, I will at least provide you guidance.”


    At the choking sound Morgana made at the Oath, Azex glanced her way and made a silencing gesture.


    “My Liège surely-”


    “Morgana, you are my Voice. I respect your help and advice, but I see Titan’s nudging at work here. He sets the maze of life and allows us choices. How else would she have found a turn that brought her to my doorstep?” Azex asked, his tone reassuring rather than reproachful, and after a moment, Morgana nodded. At her acceptance, Azex formed a chair and gestured for her to join them.


    “Might I ask what you mean by that, Azex?” asked Julia, sitting forward as she spoke.


    “My kin believe that since the Titan made this realm, he did so for a reason. As Deities gain power from believers, we suspect he gains power from every choice Souls make - for good or ill. The tale is told among us that before he gained the strength to make his realm, he lived within a maze in another’s realm. There were innocent and guilty alike sent into it. Those innocents that entered he let live, if they could find their way to freedom.” Azex explained, his gaze resting far lighter on Julia. “While if tossed in for crimes, they never regained the light. Sometimes in life we need to backtrack and offer apologies or make amends. While we live, we can make choices and move forward to find our goals.”


    Laodice, I don’t suppose you’d care to enlighten me?


    (( That choice is yours, not mine. ))


    “But just because choices are there doesn’t mean we can find them,” Julia replied.


    “Of course not. The Titan’s maze was pitch black, possessing only light that others brought in with them, or could make. We need to find our own wisdom from whatever place we might find it,” offered Azex. “I can see several choices for the Sigil, for example, but they all depend on your goals.”


    “What do you mean?” Julia asked cautiously, the Sigil already having caused issues between them.


    “The obvious two are I can remove it, or you can keep it for now,” Azex replied. When Julia smiled in relief, he raised a cautioning hand. “Hear me out. The Sigil is a brand, but it is also a key. It represents Balnérith; while it allows others to recognise you, it means any wards keyed for her Sisterhood will also admit you. The only way she could prevent them from recognising you would be by changing her True Name and resetting all the wards. Or trust someone to recreate every ward and give it a key only they fully controlled, and thus allow them mastery over her protections. Once I remove the Sigil, only she can restore it, so consider if you need such a key.”


    “That’s a good point,” Julia responded thoughtfully, doubting Balnérith would trust anyone to such a degree. “I have things I might need it to accomplish. I’m not the only one that needs rescuing from her.”


    ((It is a scar on your Soul, you should remove it.))


    Isn’t that my choice also? That block of Levithan’s blood is in her stronghold. Since you wouldn’t tell me more, I suspect it’s part of the key to freeing you.


    “Where would you like me to begin?” Julia asked, excited that she finally knew a sure way to be free of it when it was time.


    “Perhaps at the beginning?” suggested Azex.


    “I was born at a very young age,” Julia started, pausing with a smile at Azex’s amused snort.


    “Younger than you know; perhaps when you returned to the Titan’s realm,” suggested Azex.


    “One moment I was on the way home from work, the next I was in darkness.”


    <hr>


    “You have quite a ‘to-do’ list, Julia,” Azex said, having considered her account for a time. Morgana had taken Alfarr and Yngvarr to rest, as her tale had gone on for hours. Torm and Rana had stayed to hear it out, adding snippets she hadn’t been aware of but leaving the account mostly in her hands. “Your list certainly has much of the one I remember within it, even if you don’t remember her.”


    “Do you know how the Anar remembered their past lives?” Julia asked, considering all the boxes of knowledge she had locked away.


    “They learnt their True Name during their rite of adulthood, and it helped unlock memories. That is the extent of what lore I know on the subject. It was a rite for which only Anar or Lóm? were present,” admitted Azex. “My fishing hole, as Morgana calls it, follows some distance from the Spawning Stone. When I feel in the mood, I allow Slaadi to find it and cull some.”


    “Morgana said you know two Fallen that redeemed themselves?” Julia asked, returning to a matter raised far earlier.


    “Redeeming themselves required venturing deep into the Abyss, but I don’t have details about what they underwent. I’ve their names. I’ll see if I can learn more for a fee,” Azex said, only the slight twitch of his mouth giving away his amusement.


    “What sort of fee?” Julia asked, cautiously having noted some oddities Azex had found amusing within her account.


    “The rest of your tale once you get free,” responded Azex quickly.


    “Deal,” Julia agreed, her amusement clear. “What would you charge for using your fishing hole?”


    “I’m sure there are other tales at this table that can be told,” Azex stated. The slight flexing of his mouth with his wooden expression for him was a broad smile indeed.


    “How often do you hear fresh stories?” asked Torm, his reactions having told Julia far more than they had in the past.


    “Not as frequently as I would like,” Azex replied, only hinting at a frown. “Now, who will begin, Torm or Rana?”