The golem came willingly enough.


    I studied him surreptitiously as we walked. Lucius’ expression was impossible to decipher but from his muttering, I could tell he was still preoccupied by what I’d told him. “I didn’t think to ask before,” I began, “but what House do you hail from?”


    For some reason, the question set the golem chuckling despite his distraction. “Can’t you tell?” he asked, gesturing behind us.


    It took me a moment to figure out that he was pointing to the silk strands, then it clicked. “You’re a… Spider?”


    Flattening his lips, Lucuis stretched them in what I suspected was meant to be a smile. It was a particularly poor imitation, but diplomatically, I refrained from saying so.


    “That’s right,” he confirmed. “House Spider and Death are ancient allies.” His tone turned morose. “Or we were. It’s why Adriel rehomed me first. She trusts me more than the others.”


    “And is she right to?” I asked casually.


    Lucius laughed. “Another blunt question. But I’m curious, do you truly expect me to say anything other than yes?”


    It was my turn to smile. “Don’t mistake me for a na?ve fool, Lucius. I have ways of compelling the truth from you, and before the night is out, I will almost certainly do so. Consider this your only opportunity to speak freely before then.”


    The golem tilted his head.  ‘Speaking freely’—is that what they call interrogations these days?”


    “You’re still dodging the question,” I pointed out mildly.


    Lucius bowed his head and fell silent for so long I didn’t think he was going to answer. “I’m not sure,” he said finally.


    It was an honest-sounding answer, and that was all I could ask for. Further questions would have to wait, however. We’d reached the center of the cavern. Anriq and Shael were still tinkering with whatever they were building and had not looked up yet. Instead our welcome was left to the two wolves approaching from the right.


    “Welcome back, Michael,” the larger one greeted warmly.


    “Thank you, Oursk.” Going down on one knee, I held out my hand to the arctic wolf accompanying him.


    Snow snuffled my palm and sent a mental image that was his own greeting.


    “How are the Packs doing?” I asked both wolves.


    “We’re settling,” Oursk replied. “Many of the pups are confused, but excited at the change nonetheless.” Raising his snout, the dire wolf looked meaningfully upward. “Then there are those who want to know when we can leave.”


    I winced. “I’m sorry, Oursk, but the Packs aren’t going anywhere. The caves will be your home for the foreseeable future.”


    Both wolves lowered their gazes, clearly unhappy about the news. “Duggar said so,” Oursk began, “but I thought you would…” He shook his head. “Never fear, scion, we will adapt. As always.”


    “I’m sorry I had to uproot you from your home again.”


    My words prompted a flurry of images from the arctic wolf alpha that washed over me too quickly to decipher.


    “Home is where the Pack is,” Oursk translated. “The rest is just a place to live.”


    I chuckled. “Very wise.”


    I sensed the wolves’ answering grins. “Where is Ghost?” Duggar asked, changing the topic.


    “Sleeping,” I replied. “She’s had a long day.”


    “Pups these days have no stamina,” he joked.


    “Don’t let her hear you say that,” I murmured and glanced sideways at the golem lurking beside me. I wondered what he made of the wolves.


    Lucius’ body language screamed of wary watchfulness, but he exhibited no impatience or surprise. But then again, all the possessed—as former scions themselves—would have an intimate understanding of the relationship between a scion and their animal brethren.


    “What do you make of him, Oursk,” I asked softly.


    “His mind is opaque,” the big dire wolf replied so quickly I knew he’d been expecting the question. “His awareness is too well shielded for even an errant thought to slip through.”


    “Hmm. What do the elders think?”


    “They have not been able to get a read on him either. Duggar instructed me to watch him until you returned.”


    “I see,” I said, rising to my feet. I wished I’d spent more time getting to know the possessed before this, but truthfully there had been no time for that. I would have to rely on Adriel’s counsel. I suspected, though, that further insight would have to wait until morning.


    The lich and the others didn’t look like they were quitting any time soon. Shael and Anriq, though, had, and were finally approaching. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    “We’ll talk more later, Oursk,” I said, turning to face the pair.


    “See that you do,” the dire wolf replied, accepting the dismissal. “The pups are anxious to reacquaint themselves with you and Ghost.” On that note, the two wolves slunk off leaving me alone with Shael, Anriq, and Lucius.


    “How did it go?” Anriq asked obliquely after a brief glance in Lucius’ direction.


    “There were complications,” I replied in the same vein. “And on this end?”


    “The evacuation is complete,” Shael replied. “All the wolves have come through safely.”


    “Evacuation from where?” Lucius asked. He surveyed the cave. “And for that matter, where are we? Not in Draven’s Reach, I don’t think.”


    Shael glanced curiously at the nagian but didn’t respond to his questions. “As you can see,” the bard continued, addressing me again, “Adriel has begun rehoming the possessed.”


    I nodded. “How many so far?”


    “Three,” Lucius answered before the others could.


    “Three?” I asked, startled “Where—”


    “Hail, scion!” The words rang out hollowly from the left.


    Turning in that direction, I spotted two nagians emerging from behind one of the ‘storeroom’s’ fur piles. Like Lucius, their minds were shielded, which explained why I’d not noticed them before this.


    Wanting to know who I was facing, I reached out with my will and analyzed the approaching pair.


    The target is Bacheus, a level 208 nagian sorcerer.


    The target is Zekiel, a level 206 nagian psi knight.


    “Meet Bach and Zek,” Lucius said grandly as the two drew closer. “My fellow captains.”


    I glanced at him sharply. “Captains?”


    He nodded. “Adriel has chosen the three of us to serve as the leaders of the former possessed. Although, I suppose we should be calling ourselves nagians from now on.”


    My eyes narrowed. “Is that why all three of you are elites?”


    Lucius attempted another gruesome smile. “Partly. But it’s also because the lich trusts us.”


    I grunted noncommittally.


    “Safyre asked us to watch them—discreetly,” Anriq said over the farspeaker bracelet.


    “Why?” I asked. Folding my arms behind my back and pretending to watch the approaching nagians, I betrayed no sign of our mental conversation. “Does Safyre not trust them?”


    “No, that’s not it,” Shael replied. “Adriel is confident of their loyalty—and that’s good enough for Safyre—but given the precariousness of our situation, she felt it only prudent we watch them.”


    “An understandable precaution,” I murmured, then closed the link as the two nagians finally reached us.


    “Well met, Bach, Zek,” I said, nodding to each in turn.


    Physically, the three nagians were nearly indistinguishable from each other, but as I looked closer, I noticed almost imperceptible differences in their facial structures and bodies that set them apart. Still, in the ordinary course of events it would be impossible to tell the nagians apart.


    Thankfully, I have analyze, I thought.


    Dropping into a cross-legged stance, I gestured for the others to seat themselves. “I guess it’s time for some explanations.”


    “That would be appreciated, Wolf,” Zekiel replied, his words a dry rumble.


    “Yes, please,” Bacheus added. “I hate being kept in the dark.”


    I nodded, understanding the sentiment. “For starters, as Lucius has already guessed, we are not in Draven’s Reach.”


    Bacheus leaned forward eagerly. “Then where are we? Somewhere sunny I hope?”


    I held up my hand. “We’ll get to that in a bit.” I glanced at Lucius. “If you don’t mind, please share with your fellow captains what you’ve learned of your new body.”


    Inclining his head, the former Spider did just that.


    “Void crystals!” Bacheus exclaimed when Lucius was done. He stared down at his arms in what I expected was fascinated wonder. “Is that what this is? I thought I recognized it, but working the crystals is supposed to be impossible! How did Adriel do it?”


    Zekiel was studying his hands too. “I think… I like it.”


    Lucius snorted. “Of course, you would. You Bears were always overly enamored of size.” His eyes found mine. “Are you going to answer Bacheus?”


    Retrieving a naga scale from my backpack, I tossed it to Lucius. “Your bodies are made from this.”


    The nagian studied the item curiously for a moment before handing it to Bacheus.


    “What is it?” the sorcerer asked.


    “A naga scale,” I replied.


    “A naga,” Zekiel repeated slowly. “What is that?”


    “A stygian,” Shael answered.


    “Of course, it’s a stygian,” Bacheus said impatiently. “But what type? I’ve never heard of the creature before.”


    I shrugged. “Neither have we, nor Adriel for that matter. As far as we can tell we’re the first to encounter its like.”


    Lucius glanced upward at the roof of the cave. “I take it we’re in the Nethersphere then?”


    I shook my head. “Not exactly.”


    The three nagians stared at me intently, waiting for me to go on.


    “We’re in a sector infested by nether, one we hope to claim for our faction,” I said.


    Lucius made the connection immediately. “That’s what you meant by changing circumstances, isn’t it? You need our help to defeat the stygians. That’s why Adriel is rehoming us in these bodies.”


    I nodded. “Correct.”


    “But you’re the scion of a dead House,” Zekiel protested. “How can you belong to a faction?” The nagian’s hands tightened into fists. “Unless… unless you’ve thrown in your lot with the new Powers?” He locked gazes with me. “Is that what you’ve done, Wolf?”


    Anriq snorted derisively. “Michael would never do such a thing!”


    But neither Zekiel nor I broke off from our impromptu staring contest to glance his way. “No, I have not,” I said, enunciating each word carefully.


    Zekiel didn’t look convinced, but Bacheus took me at my word. “Then how?”


    “Isn’t that obvious?” Lucius asked quietly. “Our scion has become a Power himself.”


    The other two nagians froze, making their shock clear.


    “A good guess,” I said, turning Lucius’ way. “But not quite correct this time. I’m only a Powerful Initiate.”


    Bacheus laughed. “Only an Initiate he says.”


    Zekiel bowed his head. “Then there is hope,” he said hoarsely.


    “Hope?” Shael asked, perplexed. “Hope for what?”


    “Hope for restoring the Houses,” Zekiel replied, his gaze staying fixed on me. “Is that what you intend, Wolf? To bring back the Primes.”


    “Call me Michael,” I said. “And yes, that is my intent.” I spread my arms to include Safyre, Adriel, and the others in the gesture. “That’s why we are all here.”


    “Then you will have my help,” Zekiel replied, his voice thick with emotion. “And gladly.”


    “And mine too,” Bacheus added more softly, but no less fervently.


    Pursing my lips, I studied each of the nagians in turn. Bacheus and Zekiel both seemed sincere, and even the more reserved Lucius was nodding along with the others. My instincts were telling me I could trust them, but I couldn’t take any chances. “You know I will have to test the truth of your words.”


    Lucius inclined his head. “We would expect nothing less.”


    I rose to my feet. “Then I will leave it to Shael and Anriq to share our tale. Tomorrow, I will put your words to the test and take your oaths.”


    Anriq’s brows furrowed. “Where are you going?”


    “Bed,” I replied, stifling a yawn. “It’s time I got some rest.”