Tikow sat on a balcony staring out into the sea, so much had happened. He had sent his son, Arnimos, and some forces to help secure against bandits but instead some of his strongest soldiers and his son had been defeated. Now he didn't even know where Arnimos was, it was painful. He prayed every night that he was safe but as the days dragged on he lost more and more hope.

  He glanced back into the room, he saw Phemonoe carefully and slowly walking over before taking a seat next to him.

  "You shouldn't be moving around so much," Tikow said. "The healers said that-"

  "I'm fine," Phemonoe said. "I need some sunlight and fresh air,"

  She stared at the sea, a light breeze blew in causing her hair to gracefully blow in the wind. The sunlight lightly bathed her petrified grey skin almost seeming to bring the vaguest resemblance of color to it. Her eyes with that ever dull grey seemed to be tinged in the lightest purple.

  "Are you feeling better today?" Tikow said.

  "As good as I have ever been," Phemonoe said.

  They sat in each other's presence. There was little to say they were both hurting but neither could bring themselves to say a word to the other. There was always so much happening that moments like these had become rare. Tikow looked at her, here in the sunlight he could see bits of the woman he fell in love with. It was decades ago now that they met and married and now it seemed Tikow would spend decades, maybe even centuries, without her. He opened his mouth to say something but then he saw something, a lone carriage rode up to the gate of the palace. The guards seemed to move with an unforeseen alacrity around this carriage and a moment later a servant burst into the room.

  "My Lord!" The servant said. "The Reborn Lord Qulmilas has arrived!"

  'A Reborn Lord?!?' he thought. 'What are they doing here?' Tikow looked at Phemonoe.

  "I'll be back in a moment my dear," Tikow said.

  He wasted no time rushing out of the room.

  "Tell the guards to escort Lord Qulmilas to the court!" Tikow said.

  The servant bowed and rushed off, Tikow made his way to the throne room and quickly donned some more regal clothing and took a seat. He sat for a few minutes before the main doors opened and 3 men entered. One was Luxicon dressed in servant garbs, the next was a Taniberas, he presumed, dressed in a strange garb similar to that of a nun, especially strange since it was a man, and the last, dressed in regal clothing themselves, was Lord Qulmilas.

  "Presenting Lord Qulmilas!" The servant declared.

  The Luxicon and Taniberas gave a small bow.

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  "And to what do I owe the pleasure, Lord Qulmilas?" Tikow said.

  "I am here to discuss business," Qulmilas said. "We will require privacy."

  Tikow gave a motion and his guards departed leaving the 4 alone in the room.

  "What is the issue?" Tikow said. "If I may ask?"

  "There are many enemies here and abroad," Qulmilas said. "And I hear some of them have taken your son."

  "That is true," Tikow said, narrowing his eyes. "But we are working to get him back,"

  "Without him however it is likely the Empire will make a move," Qulmilas said. "Their restriction from attempting to seize an Archon is the only reason they haven't yet attacked the independent lord of Elysium."

  "I am well aware of this," Tikow said. "What is your purpose in being here?"

  "We are not permitted to directly intervene in such matters," Qulmilas said. "However some of us are not very pleased with the state of things."

  "And what do you propose then?" Tikow said.

  "We are willing to help find your son and provide the support necessary to keep the Empire from invading," Qulmilas said. "In exchange, we would like the Page you have."

  Tikow narrowed his eyes at Qulmilas, 'how did he learn of the page?'

  "You make great assumptions in guessing that I possess a Page," Tikow said. "I will consider this proposal however, is there anything else?"

  "That is all." Qulmilas said.

  Qulmilas gave him no time to say goodbyes and simply turned and left, as he left the room another figure entered through a side door, Tages. The Oracle looked at the door that Qulmilas had just left through then back at Tikow.

  "It appears much is happening in a short time," Tages said. "This is not a good sign,"

  "What do you think is happening, old friend?" Tikow said.

  "Writer has made his move," Tages said.

  "And what will that mean for us?" Tikow said.

  "Nothing good, I know that," Tages said.

  "But there must be a way to beat him?" Tikow said.

  "There is," Tages said. "I do not know it yet however,"

  "Then what are we to do?" Tikow said.

  "All we can," Tages said. "If Reborn Lords came here that means that this is a far greater conspiracy then i had imagined,"

  Tages seemed to think for a moment before turning towards the door.

  "I must ride to Ragate and speak to the other members of the Luminary Enclave about this," Tages said. "They will know how to deal with this,"

  "What of Arnimos?" Tikow said. "How is he involved in this? Is he safe?"

  "I do not know," Tages said. "But knowing that man he is alive, the question is if that is a good thing,"

  "What should I do while I wait for your return?" Tikow said.

  "Continue as you have been," Tages said. "Do not let them know we are doing anything,"

  "I understand old friend," Tikow said. "I shall entrust it all to you,"

  Tages nodded and left the throne room towards the great city of Ragate, there he would find what he needed to counter whatever play was being made here. Tikow sat alone in the throne room and stared out a window into the city, it was going to be a long time before he got another moment of peace.