“I do not believe it hopeless.” For the first time, a hint of gender, a voice far deeper than any of the other
members of the Kirin Tor's inner circle would have believed possible. “I cannot, so long as she is held.”
“What she means to you is understandable, Korialstrasz; what she means to us is that of the memory of
a time past.” Khadgar waited, but no one else spoke and at last he stirred in his unseen chair. “If there is nothing more, noble gentlemen and lady, I will take my leave,” he said. “It has been a long day and I am very tired.”

“I do not know why I've even come,” he commented to Krasus.
“Because you had to. You needed to.”
The other let loose with an audible hiss. “True, but now that I'm here, I can choose to leave any time I
desire.”
Krasus raised a slim, gloved hand. “At least hear me out.”

Both were tall and slim, their faces covered by cowls. One could be identified as the wizard Rhonin

The two met in a place of shadow, a place reachable only by a few, even among their own kind. It was a

“Your strong arm is welcome.” The apparent leader then

And then a seventh rider slowly emerged from the forest, this one in the more traditional armor that
Vereesa had first been expecting. Within the shadowy, visorless helm, she could see a strong and—for a

The newcomers carried no banner, and the only sign of their identities appeared to be the image of a

Too late. Six massive figures on horseback suddenly broke through the woods, surrounding them. Even
in the dimming sunlight their silver armor gleamed sharp. The elf found a lance pointing at her chest.

With practiced ease, the ranger slid her blade free from its sheath. Beside her, Rhonin's hands

The emerald eyes of the mage narrowed. “I'm sorry; you took that as an insult. Didn't mean it that way.”
She doubted the veracity of his statement, but knew she had to accept his weak attempt at an apology.
Forcing down her anger, she asked again, “What do you find so curious?”
“That this dragon should appear in so timely a fashion.”
“If you think like that, you might as well ask where the gryphons came from. After all, they chased it off.”