A report from the Illuminated Erewyrm -

My lord Trisni,

I have spent time exploring the Sansuignors, talking and living with our smaller brethren and trying to understand them. As it was said, it has been long since Elzen and Sansuignors have met, at least formally, since the days of the collapse. And indeed, long and hard has been their fall since those calamitous days.

The Clans are, for the lack of a better word, wanderers. While there are a few settlements, often founded by some noble’s grace landing on the head of some lucky saps, it is clear that most of them are scattered, wandering across the lands in search of work on caravans and on the backs of traders, while those who settle in cities or villages are at the mercy of their hosts, only granted residence should they be able. Like all relics of old Strovia, Ordost the Second’s incomplete grant to them still holds unfortunate power.

The Clans themselves, as an entity, holds some level of strength. What mines under their stewardship and contracts they can receive give them a sort of independence and protection as they and their members wander the Realm. But it is doubtful whether this translates to power of any sort, seeing as they cannot raise armies are forced to work within the limits of what they have. They do have their resources, for what matters - the Danaeifards have their Specialized Boards, of craftsmen and artificers dedicated to a single art, the Najazadeh’s inheritance of the old Office of War-craft makes them the pertinent siege-masters in the wars of dominance, and the Kanssari…worst off as they are, with the least to their names, they have made their own order of watchers and seekers, skilled in moving without notice, and striking without warning. But they have only so much to go around, and it is clear that they chafe under the weight of old laws and decrees.

As I write this, Tissa demands that I reflect on their history, and ours. The Sansuignors have not received the promise that was given them from the times of old, and that in itself will be a problem that will harm the realm if left unsolved. And having seen their plight, I see it as my - and our - duty to extend Tissa’s hand of compassion towards them. At the same time, seeing my fellows show nothing but shock when they have realized the state of things outside Plimsveri, demonstrates that much has changed since we began our quiet retreat.

The Elzen have been cloistered for far too long.

- Correspondence from the Elzen Erewyrm, Razeris, to the Trisni Neversi of Plimsveri

“...the drawing of weapons in the city, the raiding of ecclesiastical holdings, attacks on His Magnificence’s own Watch…Svernaya, of the Kanssari, you have committed serious crimes against the City of Orismuth, and the people of Straskey.”

Back in the Catechy to Everlasting Findriel, an impromptu court was in session. In the preacher’s hall, Sovereign Watchmen, in their full battle regalia, gathered around the group of kneeling Sansuignors, tied up and tried before their judges, jury and would-be executioners. The Custodian stood by the Watch, observing the process as some sort of impromptu witness. But the Watch wasn’t too happy either - with only five of them in the hall, and facing a group of one and half a dozen tied up prisoners, each of them battered but unbowed and still simmering with murderous intent. Earlier, one of the Watch had hastily left, presumably to get reinforcements, but it would take them time for additional troops to arrive.

Observing the trial - if it could be one - from a corner, were Navras, Roland and the rest of the Danaeifards, sitting on the seats of the hall, while being attended by the Order’s brothers and sisters, who were dressing their wounds and bruises, while their equipment and bags lay haphazardly around them.

A male acolyte was applying some ointment to Roland’s arm, which - despite the sudden healing forced upon it - was still plagued with ghost pains and aftershocks of the crystal exploding. Not helping was the shame of knowing that he had to be personally rescued for the second time in a month.

Fuck, I’m such an idiot.

“Thanks,” he mentioned, as the acolyte finished applying the ointment, causing the pain to temporarily reside. Nodding, the attendant went over to Navras, who was dealing with an open wound that the rest of his group was trying to patch.

Wonder…how did she…manage to heal it?

Roland raised his arm, looking over it, as the torn sleeve drooped off it. Somehow, from a vicious injury that would have taken weeks to heal, all that remained was merely scar tissue. An image of its previously mutilated form flashed over it, and Roland winced, quickly dropping his arm.

“We plead against the despicable Order, for their violation of the principles of Strovia!”

Just at that moment, a shout gained his attention. All eyes in the room swivelled to look at its origin, the head of the Kanssari who was defiantly yelling at the Watch.

“Hold your tongue, samgris!” Ris shouted back, “The Order has been sanctioned by -”

“Oh, to the pit with your sanction,” Svernaya spat with undiluted venom. “Your archives have held so many priceless artefacts and tomes of Zorbruk, so many works of knowledge and art that were lost to us; and yet you stash them away, charge exorbitant fees just to see them, and refuse to return them to the clans of Zorbruk. When we live in squalor and are unable to find coin or food, you deny us our birthright!”

“Preposterous!”

As the argument escalated, the Watchmen shifted around, looking very uncomfortable. Even at a distance, one could spot the grips on their polearms tighten.

“The Order would not deny a Sansuignor, no matter what you think of us, had you approached us instead of raiding our sacred thresholds.” Ris roared, furious, “We are, we have not, been unaware of your plight. But now that you have done so, we will not be merciful!”

“Oi,” one of the Watchmen - a Pueri and thus leader of the group in the Catechy, his rank indicated by a tassel hanging off his breastplate, blurted out as he turned to the friar, irritated. “We will be the ones deciding what happens, alright?

“Then get on with it-”

“How many manuscripts have you held that you have claimed belonged to a Tross instead of a Sansuignor, then?” the Kanssari continued to fire back, straining at her bindings. “How many items have you labelled as the work of the Strovian when they were the legacy of Zorbruk -”

Svernaya, in her fury, inched too close to the leader of the squad of Watchmen, and with a flash, a metal gauntlet back-handed her, causing the Kanssari to fall back a few centimetres. As she hit the floor with a thump, Roland winced, while the Kanssari’s erupted into furious muttering.

“This is pointless,” Roland could hear Ris complain above the din. “Punish them and be done with it, do not drag this any lon-”

“The Watch, not you, will decide when and how we will carry things out, not you,” The Watch leader replied icily, staring down the Custodian. “Do not question us.”

As the shouting and arguments began to escalate, a few of the Order attending to Navras began to make themselves scarce, quickly yet quietly disappearing into the backrooms. Likewise, Roland could not help but even more uncomfortable in the face of the escalating situation.

This is such a mess…

“Danaeifard!” Despite the fact that she was lying on the ground, unable to move, the Kanssari leader was still defiant. Her eyes now boring into both Roland and Navras, she continued to make her case. “You saw, didn’t you? That creation, the crystal for the heating of water? That was the work of a Danaeifard! Your ancestor’s work, stolen and perverted by some common thief!”

Navras didn’t respond, simply turning his gaze towards Roland. After a few moments, Roland looked back, seeing the uncertainty and confusion on the Lembass’s face.

“Is it true?” Navras whispered, urgently. “Is it-”

“I…saw the inscription of a Danaeifard, that was almost rubbed out,” Roland replied, reaching for his bag. He pulled out the crimson crystal, proffering it over to Navras. “Maybe-”

Navras’s eyes widened upon seeing the item. Plucking it almost a little too quickly from Roland’s shaking fingers, he proceeded to turn the crystal over and about. “Yes-yes it is, I recognize the…” he held out the crystal to Roland, his fingers clasped around a specific portion. “See this pattern in the crystal’s structure? This - this is a signature of our aetherial crystalwork; and - and the engraving on the metal!” He turned the crystal around again, this time highlighting the copper disk implanted within. “This engraved pattern there- there’s not a doubt this was a creation of a Danaeifard.”

Seeing this, Roland’s mind went into overdrive. So… it's true…the Archives of the Order have pillaged items from the Sansuignors…so how do we deal with this?

But as Roland tried to think through the situation, the chaos around him continued to rise. Facing down a large group of angry Sansuignors, the Watch had grown anxious, both hands on their weapons as a tremor of angry murmurs began to ripple through them. His eyes darted between the armoured warriors and their captives, sympathising with both, but unsure what to do in the current moment.

“Navras…” Roland whispered hurriedly. “What…what should I do?”

“I…I don’t know,” Navras replied, holding the crystal tight. “The Kanssari have committed a grave crime, and death is likely to be their punishment…”

“...I don’t think they should die, but…”

“Outsider, they almost killed you.” Navras replied, incredulous. “Even if you sympathize with their reasons, is it worth challenging his Magnificence’s Watch just to save your would be killers?”

“I…” Roland hesitated for a moment, before swallowing hard. “I don’t they should die today-”

“Enough!”

The Pueri barked out an order, and Roland saw the Watch start rounding up the Kanssari, starting to drag them out. “We have thus spoken. Send them to the Grandbridge and throw these accursed pillagers off-”

“Wait!” In a moment of panic, Roland stood up, walking towards the impromptu court. Ignoring Navras’s sudden yells, he began, “Hold, I think we can work this out, you don’t have to kill them! If the Archive did hold Sansuignor materials, then I can propose a solution!”

“Hold your tongue, peasant.” One of the Watchmen yelled back.

Low on patience and provoked, Roland shot back. “You don’t tell me what to do-”

Before he knew it, the Watch had advanced on him. In a moment, the Outsider felt a hand grab his collar, before his face was rudely introduced to the ground - once again. Before Roland could even acknowledge the pain or his new position, two metal things slammed into the ground beside him - and when he looked, he saw the glint of his reflecting in the blade of a poleaxe.

“For Hristomver’s sake, cease this nonsense!” From below where his head and neck were trapped by the weight of the two poleaxes, Roland could hear Navras shouting in protest. “This is the Outsider, a Mate and a guest of his Magnificence, and a fellow to the Uiatachians-”

“A Mate’s just a glorified peasant, Lembass.” The Watch leader coldly replied, as his men began to drag the rest of the Kanssari to their feet. “His Magnificence has no true consideration for such fools and we have already afforded him charity by not taking his head off.”

Below the poleaxes, trapped and helpless, Roland began to fume, although the weight of the polearms kept it caged.

Seriously, again?

“You can’t just ignore his wo-”

“Enough is enough, Lembass!” The Watch Pueri responded, almost screaming at this point. “Cease your prattling about feuds, for we have assassins in the city; or I will throw you off the Grandbridge like the rest of them!”

“You dare?”

The rest of the Danaeifards jumped to their feet at the insult, startling their attending medicae as they went for their weapons. “We will not let you!”

“Watch!” The leader snapped, “Seize the-”

BANG.

“Oi, oi, what’s this?”

The doors to the Catechy slammed open, followed by a pulse of aetherial energy, Recognizing the voice, Roland strained his neck to look - and saw Masaru walking through the door.

As the Uiatachian Watch-Captain stopped before the gathered ensemble, a party of Magus-Curiassers quickly filed through the door, forming a barricade between the hall and the outside. With a good number of people already reaching for their own weapons, the Cuirassiers also had one hand on their pommels, ready to draw.

“Uiatachians… “ The Pueri snarled, turning his gaze upon the newcomers. “What are you doing here?”

“Before I explain, get your weapons off,” Masaru pointed a finger at Roland and jerked it upwards, “the Mate Outsider.”

“On whose authority?”

“The authority of the Mallebrium and the fact that you are lacking in men, Pueri.”

“You dare threaten-”

“Fine, if you want to explain yourself to the Princess Royal why you have a foreign dignitary and guest of hers trapped under your blades, feel free to do so,” With the tone of someone who had long lost their patience, Masaru pressed calmly yet fiercely, “but if you want to settle this in a way where everyone still has their limbs and tongues, cease this immediately.”

At Masaru’s proclamation, the room fell silent, save for the growling of several displeased parties. A few agonizing moments passed as the Pueri considered the threat, before finally jerking his head to the side.

As Roland felt the pressure relieve off his throat, he collapsed with a sigh - only for firm hands to drag him up almost immediately afterwards, pulling him towards the Uiatachians. Too exhausted to really make a stand, Roland simply submitted to getting dragged back by the group. Immediately, the Uiatachians gathered around him, one of them holding a crystal that glowed with a warm white light, causing him to regain some of his strength.

“Are you in any shape to ride, Roland?” Masaru asked, kneeling beside him, whispering in a hushed tone.

“We are here to bring you back to the Mallebrium.” Masaru whispered back, “the Matriarch heard that you had gone and caught yourself in a fight, and hence we have been given leave to retrieve you.”

“Then…what about the Sansuignors?”

Masaru, peeked over him, eyes narrowing. “That’s not our business.”

“What do you mean, not our business?” Roland choked out. “There’s…I mean, the Kanssari have their-”

“That’s still not our issue, Outsider,” Masaru said, uncertain of whatever Roland was up to. “We are Uiatachians - whatever internal quarrels that the Straskians have is not…necessarily our concern.”

“Yeah. I see that…but sorry.”

Seized by a wild abandon, Roland pushed himself back up, facing the Watch and their Pueri. Before Masaru or the other Uiatachians could grab him and pull him back down, he had placed himself in front of the knight, facing him down with renewed boldness.

“P…Pueri of the Watch,” he stuttered, as the words stumbled out of his mouth before he could think them through, “I beseech you, please…please consider the new information that the knowledge and the artefact I’ve recently taken from the Archive of St. Thermis…is that of the Sansuignors, of the clan of the Danaeifard, as our good Lembass here is part off. And with that knowledge, I ask of you - please demonstrate the mercy of the Straskians, and belay your execution.”

Behind Roland, Masaru groaned, although Roland ignored it for the time being.

“...you have a nerve, a man of little status challenging us, not once, but twice.” The Pueri replied, with a fierce aristocratic hiss in his voice.

Roland’s frustration reappeared, causing his hackles to rise. “I…I don’t care…whoever you are.” Finding no curse that would translate from English to Strovian, he opted to say his next words in the harshest tone possible. “I am…the Outsider. I bring counsel from a greater world than yours. Failure to listen…will bring you nought but regret.”

“Oh, do tell.” The Pueri turned mocking. “What, you are not some peasant, but a jester?”

Roland snorted, but forced himself to ignore the jab. “Listen, whatever sins the Kanssari have committed today…you must consider them within the wider scope of their actions. They knew that the secrets of their race were taken and concealed within the archives of the Orders, and without other recourse they have acted as they thought to recover them. So, to settle this matter, perhaps-”

“They have violated the laws of Straskey, and thus they shall be judged.” The Pueri replied with his own snort.

“I’m not done ye-”

“Uiatachian!” the Pueri shouted, cutting off Roland before he could continued, “If you are done, take your dotard of a servant, and begone from this place.”

“You-”

Masaru grabbed Roland, before the latter could lash out with his boiling anger. With a single stern look, he pushed Roland towards his men, a finger on his lips. “Nay, not at this point. I think we should consider what the Outsider has said.”

“What?”

Taking advantage of the suddenness of his arrival, Masaru pressed on, turning to the Danaeifards. “Lembass Navras Danaeifard, I presume?”

“Yes…and who are you, Uiatachian?”

“Just know me as Watch-Captain Soris-Verdant.” Hearing the Nictorian name, some of the other Straskians stiffened, but Masaru paid them no mind. “The Outsider and you were searching for an artefact that you needed for the Pit, right?”

“That is correct.”

“And it was the property of your ancestors…or at least the clansmen before you…right?”

“It…most certainly is.” Navras held the crystal up, double-checking it. “Yes, no doubt.”

“Then there’s definitely has to be a violation of rights here. Now, I’m not familiar with Strovian laws or rules, but there definitely has to be some sort of property laws for this, I believe…and as such, all in all,” Masaru pushed his point, increasing his volume, “Wouldn’t you consider this a violation of those laws?”

“We are not here to debate on the actions that were committed by those in the past, Nic-Uiatachian.” the Pueri replied, his fury residing in face of overwhelming authority, but still determined to hold his ground.. “If you want to debate about it, we can do so in the Crystal Court. The matter remains as such - a group of Sansuignors drew weapons in a city, raided property, and attacked someone. Including your own people, in fact.“

“But that doesn’t equate to-” Roland blurted out, rubbing his neck, only for Masaru to raise a hand and stop him.

“Yes, these things have happened in the past,” Masaru continued on smoothly. “But the current incident is because of those…injustices, are they not? And the Danaeifards are Sansuignors as well, holding the question of their lost knowledge. When you consider this, especially when the operation at the Pit rely so much on them…perhaps, it would be a little too hasty to rid their shoulders of their heads now.”

Masaru’s words ended in dead silence. Around the room, people started put away their weapons, lower their stance.

“Sir.” One of the other Watchmen began to speak to the Pueri. “Um…we can put these lot in the City Guard barracks for the time being -”

“Wait.” The Pueri cut him off. “How would you resolve this? Before even an adjudication before his Magnificence, I expect you to have an idea.”

Masaru turned to Roland, nodding. Feeling the Pueri’s eyes staring daggers at him, Roland gulped.

Fuck.

“Right…” Taking a deep breath, Roland began his proposal again. “What I was trying to say, is that we could sort out the material in the Archive, to see what was originally belonging to the Sansuignors as a whole, and retrieve them and return them to their owners.” Roland stopped, thinking. “Of course, the…the retrieval will have to be sorted…”

“The Mallebrium can handle it,” Masaru added. “We have the tools, and a copypress. If we could, we could even start compiling the notes and material available into tomes, just so they can be more easily copied or transferred.”

“Errr…do we have the manpower?” Roland asked nervously.

Masaru affixed him with a brief glare, before outwardly declaring, “We will suffice,” with a not too pleasant tone.

“Wait.”

All eyes turned to the Custodian, who had suddenly started to speak. “I…must apologize for my ignorance. Thinking about it…it is indeed…quite possible that a large portion of our collection could have belonged to those who had not given to us for our safekeeping, and thus kept from their hands…”

“But!” The Custodian knelt on his knees, his habit scrapping the floor. “When Strovia burned with rage and war, when thieves and banditry were looting and scrapping precious books, tools and materials, our Order, in our desperation, we dragged what valuable items that we could find, brought them into the safety of these Archives. And while that duty was discharged without manner or thought for anything but their safety, we would like to maintain that duty. To that, I ask -” He clasped his hands, begging, “- when you have catalogued, or copied the knowledge of these items, if its no object, we would like to hold the originals, as Archive was to built to keep them safe, and they remain the safest within those halls.”

There was some muttering, especially from the Kanssari.

“Honestly…even if its a pyjack from the Order saying this…I can’t object to such a proposition.” Navras coughed when he said that. “Even if its my ancestor’s property…”

“...don’t you have a grudge against the Order, Navras?” Roland asked, incredulously.

“Well, yes, I still think they are perfidious scum, frankly.” the Danaeifard repeated, but with not as much venom as he would normally have. “But…if it wasn’t for them…the crystal and its parchment wouldn’t have survived, much as I hate to admit…but because of that,” Navras folded his arms, looking at Roland directly. “I would like to request something.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding any Sansuignor property that has been found within the Archives…I ask that the knowledge be freely shared among the clans, not just within their - our - own.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Danaeifard,” Svernaya suddenly sneered. “Our elders won’t agree to that.”

“Oh, mine will, and you better make yours listen to reason,” the Lembass thundered. “Given that I - we - just saved your miserable life!”

“Alright, that’s enough!” The Pueri clapped his mental gauntlets together. “I will report all this to His Magnificence and the Princess Royal and in time, you shall be summoned to the Crystal Court in time. Otherwise…this night has taken its course, I believe...” He swept his arm at the prisoners, speaking to his men. “Watch! Take the Kanssari to the City Guard barracks, and inform the Guard. Send an advance messenger to the Castle…and Lembass, I hope you have your permits for weapons ready with you…”

The Uiatachians seperated, letting the Watch pass by them with the prisoners in tow, while the Danaeifards looked concerned, as they inspected their weapons. Meanwhile, Ris was helped to his feet by his apprentices, and the tension in the hall finally dissipated.

“Wait…” Roland suddenly asked, “Have any of you seen a…woman in black armour, wielding a halberd?”

“What woman?” The Pueri was suddenly concerned.

“Oh There was a mercenary, and she came to help us,” Navras added, scratching his beard. “but suddenly, she…left…”

“Probably returned to her quarters, then.” The Pueri shrugged his shoulders, before following the rest of his men out of the hall. “Probably won’t make any more trouble if she’s smart.”

A few minutes later the clopping of hooves could be heard as the Watch departed with their prisoners.

“Outsider,” Masaru said, his back still facing him. “The Magister wants you back at the Mallebrium. Now.”

“Wait…isn’t it a bit la-”

“No arguments here, Roland,” the Watch-Captain turned around, and Roland could see that he was deadly serious. “Get your luggage immediately.”

“I haven’t even packed…” Sighing, Roland stumbled off, a wave of exhaustion slamming into him as he did so.

==|==

“I suppose you are leaving now?”

Half an hour later, after Roland had grabbed his things from his guest room, walking through the Catechy’s main hall when he met Navras again, who was waiting for him on one of the long chairs.

“I am…” Roland sighed. “Seriously…couldn’t she have come for me in the morning.”

“Ha, you must be really precious to her, I suppose.” Navras laughed, taking a swig from his canteen. “Take a seat, we need to talk.”

“...Now?” Roland looked outside the hall, where the Uiatachians were waiting. “I think I’m in a bit of a hurry…”

“I know, after all that you have just done…it is certainly too much to ask you to accommodate me for a while longer…but, I have a very important proposition, regarding…this future project that we will be involved in, and we won’t have a chance to speak about this for a while, because I must head back to the Pit to inform the rest of my clans. Ahhhh,” Seeing Roland hesitate, Navras just waved him closer. “I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.”

With some trepidation, Roland sat beside the Sansuignor noble.

“I’ve been doing some thinking, and…” Navras pulled out the crystal that they had gone to great lengths to obtain, turning it over again and again. “Let's say, that the Crystal Court hears us out, and lets us obtain our knowledge from the Archive…could you join us and assist us in acting as a coordinator between the three clans?”

“That’s…” Roland paused, thinking…

“Now, of course, assuming if it goes through of course. You will be compensated as duly as possible, and I will try to see if I can get the resources we need.”

“No, wait.” Roland held out a hand, turning to the Lembass, a thought in his mind.

Everyone has a reason to want you, considering how important you’ve become.

“One thing I don’t get,” Roland asked, raising a finger in thought. “Is why you are spending so much trying to get the three clans to work together. Like, don’t you all have your grievances, and your competition in between each other?”

Navras didn’t answer immediately, but a sad smile slowly crept up his face in the candlelight.

“Ah… I don’t know how to say this.” The Lembass turned away. “Of course, my loyalties lie with my clan. I am a Danaeifard first and foremost. Yet…Outsider, are you somewhat familiar with the history of the Sansuignors in Strovia, the Exiles of Zorbruk?”

“Somewhat.”

“Well…” The melancholy on Navras’s face grew. “We are, fundamentally, still blasted exiles. Look…the Charter of Smithery might have given us some sort of citizenry in the Old Realm, but the promise was that the right to hold land and build on them would eventually come, and when it all collapsed…” he popped out his canteen, opening it and taking a long swig. “...well, you’ve seen the pathetic way some of the Kanssari look. At least, for the Danaeifards who live here in Straskey, those who have been waringed by His Magnificence, we have been allowed some privileges…but we, and a few others...let’s just say we were luckier than most, eh?”

Roland shivered.

“I had to travel across Strovia, and I’ve seen…many things. Those who have lost their hammers, and the shit they went through before they could be taken back into the safety of their clan. Sansuignors left in the remains of cities, trying to survive without being able to find work…” Navras’s voice faded. “And when I see that, I think back to Valin’s Letter, and his promise that we would have made this land ours…and this is it? Our knowledge lost, our ancestry gone, the clans eking out a life barely at the edges of existence…have Hristomver forsaken us?”

Navras voice cracked at the last syllable, and he shook his head. “No, I refuse to believe that. Even with Strovia shattered into five, the children of Zorbruk should not remain as exiles.” The Sansuignor put away his canteen, looking back at Roland. “Hence…I wish that we, once-Exiles, will be able to unite and retake what is lost. That with our combined might, and the knowledge that we can recover, will be able to fight for our rightful, once-promised place in this land.”

The words of the smaller yet older Lembass struck a chord within the Outsider, and Roland could not help but exult in the strength of Navras’s conviction, even as a black thought gripped him.

“...I don’t know what to think of that now…but I do wish you all the success that you need, Lembass.” the young, wavering man replied. “I…I know I can’t do much, seeing…what just happened, but I do hope I can help you more in the future.

Meanwhile, one of the Cuirassiers poked his head in, signalling at Roland.

Navras cracked a grim smile again. “Well…we do have to believe - and hope - that what we are pushin’ for does…bring something better for our people, right?”

Roland simply nodded.

“You then…well, you know what I want to ask. Your knowledge, your power…Outsider, I do see it.” Navras’s voice raised with the heat of his moment, the alcohol of his drink removing his usual graces. When he stood up, flushed, he looked Roland full in the eyes and declared. “With you, I see a chance, a chance that Strovia might finally fulfil her promise to us Sansuignors, eh, what do you think?”

“I think…” A smile, weary and tired, replied the Sansuignor’s passion. “I think you shouldn’t be too hasty to put that…trust in me, Lembass.”

“Bwahhahaha, still as modest as ever!” Navras laughed again but took the message. “Well then, good night. Be seeing you around, Mate Outsider. Hristomver guide you safely home, and by his grace, let us have ever more business the next time we meet!”

The Sansuignor left first, stepping out with a renewed vigour, while the man within the Catechy was all the more quieter.

“Well, huh…”