About the room a host of Lugians and Tumeroks exchanged wary glances. Their leaders had debated for four hours. Each had highlighted the goals of their campaign, their alliance with the Virindi, and their contempt for those that claimed regency over them. Their words had been laced with vitriol and at points it seemed the two sides would engage in open conflict. Eventually, the tensions drew the meeting to a standstill that had now lasted a full two minutes. The Lugian and Tumerok banners were still in the windless hall.

Then the silence was broken.

"A union, then." Muldaveus' voice was as deep as his face was stoic. The Tumerok seated across the table offered his hand.

"Agreed. A union." The two shook and rose to their feet. "We have been beneath the heels of others too long. Now, when the slave masters are occupied we shall claim this world for our own."

The assembled raised their voices as one. The banners fell and the forces of the renegade Lugians and the Dereth Tumeroks became an army.

The stranger placed the crate behind Rah bint Khurdig. He took the trade notes from her hand and offered a wry smile.

"Throw them with care." The stranger said as he left her tent.

"What is that?" Sherelle asked as her fellow Tolmic lifted a crystal from the fallen shard. It boasted a rich blue color and looked lustrous in the fading sunlight. Tolmic held it up and examined it closely.

"Don't know." His eyes widened as he moved the newfound gem near his breastplate. "That's odd."

"What?"

"It feels like it belongs in the breastplate." He looked down at the Celdon crafted by Alean only a moon before. "Should I try it?" He looked at Sherelle.

"What's the worst that could happen?"

"...the tinker and his prize. The mug of ale, the drinking horn, jug of mead..." Ulgrim sang the tune lightly as he walked through the front door. A broad smile spread across his face. "Home."

Home. Nearly six hundred years before he had left this place after a pitched and violent battle where many had fallen beneath the scythe-pincers of the Olthoi. He ran his hands along the stonework of the courtyard and looked up at the massive diamond behemoth that stood at the gates.

"Greetings Lord Master Asheron," it said. Asheron managed a grim smile, and the golem bowed. "Welcome home."