Jollis had visited the Imperial Palace of Oceanus only once during the waning days of the first phase of Enlightenment, when the old Oceanus order had been unwound save for a scant few Nobles and Overlords they had missed. The Inonni would never refer to them as having escaped, as that implied that their future was imprisonment. The Inonni simply wanted them to fit properly into the new order. Their resistance was to their own detriment, worse than anything they imagined the Inonni would do to them.

Jollis was pleased with the changes that Kyllos had worked upon this former monument to an unenlightened past. Nowhere were they more evident than in the open air cafe in the center of the palace grounds.

Here was a common meeting place for the overworked clerical staff of the Emperor, an attempt to find respite from a dreary life of unrecognized toil scratching the Emperor's words onto parchment, only to cringe under the hard gaze of the cold and unfeeling Imperial Guard. Every word was overheard, every gesture noted, every move that departed from the business of eating or drinking held suspect.

Granted, Emperor Z'garon had promised change, yet guards had remained, and they cared little for their Emperor's wishes. They only knew how to spot conspiracy, and how to invent it when it was not evident.

Now the sounds of booted steps against stone were supplanted by the low drone of real conversation, and even the occasional spate of quiet laughter. No one watched them, save for the gods through the symbolic cherry tree that had been planted in the exact center of the chamber. Jollis smiled at its full, rich bloom. It sat in a pool of soft, diffuse light provided by a wide tube of spun Mage Glass suspended by thin rods that spoked towards the walls of the chamber. The top of the tube pierced the ceiling, where a dome collected sunlight and directed it down to the tree.

A few patrons glanced up at Jollis as he passed their tables, where they paused for perhaps a moment or two, then resumed their conversation. Jollis understood that some were slow to let go of their old fears. The previous Emperor had believed that conspiracy and rebellion would foment here if he did not control what was said and heard. He had failed to realize that men had little need to plot and conspire when they could speak in the open.

And yet Z'garon had promised that he would be different, Jollis mused. But how different could he be? Conspiracy had spawned his campaign to take the throne; Jollis was sure it would have been a matter of time before Z'garon believed conspiracy could remove him, and would move to suppress it.

Jollis found his Master sitting in the last table along the wall, in the corner where a painting of a bright, spring landscape seemed to shine upon the polished wood. He found himself wondering what had been done with the old portraits of scowling past Emperors.

The edges of Kyllos' mouth rose and crinkled, then broadened into a full smile as Jollis bowed. "I am here once again to serve you, Master," said Jollis.

"You honor me, Jollis, as always," Kyllos said. "Please, join me as my equal."

Jollis took his seat opposite Kyllos. "And you honor me. I find this an interesting way to meet, Master. Perhaps you wish to impress upon me the progress that has been made, yes?"

"The wise man may allow himself some pride if he is mindful of his limitations," intoned Kyllos. "Lest he become like the fool and allow himself to be blinded by his own glow."

"Ah, and you have already informed me of these limitations, such as the Mage Guild. Have we not managed to find some of the so-called Rogue Mages, Master?"

Kyllos folded his hands on the table. Jollis did not remember them being so gnarled and age-spotted. In his mind, Kyllos was timeless, and he supposed he foolishly believed the body should follow. "They have become rather adept at avoiding detection by the Oceanus Mage Guild and the Imperial Guards, and thus remain elusive."

"Might I suggest that you turn your attention to the Guild itself?"

Kyllos smiled. "Your keen senses have not left you. Yes, we believe that the new Guildmaster is seeking a rapprochement with them. What few Rogue Mages we have are ones that have come to us of their own will, and they are being employed by the Holy Order."

Jollis was unable to hide his shock. He recovered quickly and fought the urge to look about for one of their number, lest he be caught seated in their presence. "This is ... most unusual," said Jollis, his voice tight.

The Holy Order of Inonni Elders rarely left the Prime Temple. They preferred to send their agents, such as Master Kyllos, an Elder Apparent, to carry out their wishes. Few even knew of the location of the roads that provided safe passage into their midst. Only those that had properly mastered Enlightenment, like Kyllos, could come and go as they wished. Anyone else had to reach them with an arduous journey over the Holy Mountain, as Jollis had been about to do.

"Not when one considers the momentous occasion," said Kyllos. "They are overseeing the dismantling of the old Overlord Portals."

"Ah, yes, I understand now. They are important symbols of the path that we have chosen not to tread."

Jollis knew he was exuding pride in his voice and his face, and would have restrained himself had this been a few moons ago. He felt he had moved beyond the need for such rigid discipline. Pride seemed unavoidable considering the abomination of the Overlord slave system that had preceded the Inonni arrival, and how well they had dismantled it.

The Inonni never opened their Portals to other worlds, even to observe let alone pillage them as Oceanus once did, and the Urisi continued to do. Jollis could understand how the Holy Order would wish to take this moment to remind the Inonni people of the power that had been attained and then willingly sacrificed for Enlightenment. His pride was not for himself but his people; he felt justified in that regard.

Yet his indulgence blinded his senses such that he did not catch the silent pause, nor the bit of hesitation in his Master's voice when he spoke again. "You should feel free to visit one of the old Overlord Manors and perhaps see some of the ceremony for yourself."

Jollis' eyes widened, and his heart thumped, both rare reactions for him. "I am ... I am quite honored, Master, that you would think me worthy to--"

"Please, Jollis, this is one place where your self-effacement is unnecessary. Do not consider those of the Holy Order unapproachable. Yes, pay them the respect they are due, but there is a reason why it is considered proper to remain standing in their presence."

Jollis understood. While the Elders of the Holy Order were the guardians of faith and the guiding hand of the Inonni, to remain seated in their presence was to elevate them to a position of lordship.

"Enlightened but Equal," Jollis intoned.

"Indeed. I daresay many would be happy to meet the Wanderer who set this all in motion." Kyllos lifted his hands from the table and steepled his fingers. "How this moment reminds me of the past, when I first sent my Wanderer out among the lands of Oceanus."

"And now you cast me into those lands again, but this time to seek the Rogue Mages."

"Or confirm that they are collaborating with the Guild."

"How troublesome is the Guild proving to be?" Jollis asked.

A small sigh escaped through Kyllos' nose, and Jollis was surprised yet again. It was very unusual for his Master to show such frustration, even with such a tiny gesture. "They have learned far more about our Portal technology than we consider safe. It is not that they can use that knowledge against us, but that they may export that knowledge to the Urisi Mage Guild and give them advance warning."

"Surely the Urisi Mages will not believe them."

"That is not an assumption I wish to rely on," Kyllos said. "But we have one thing in our favor. Modern Mage Guilds forbid binding Farview pearls to members of other Mage Guilds. It was agreed as such in the aftermath of the Mage Wars, as another hedge against Mages gaining too much power."

"So they will be forced to send their messages by courier."

"They have already dispatched one to the Urisi Guild. We intend to intercept it. If it contains any sort of data on our Portals, we will stop it and issue a fake response."

Jollis considered. "That will work only for so long, Master, if what I have heard of this new Guildmaster is true. He will eventually realize his missives are not getting through."

Kyllos smiled. From the way one corner of his mouth twitched, Jollis could tell it was forced to some degree. "That is where my Wanderer comes in."

Jollis smiled, his far more natural than that of his Master. As much as he still longed to be climbing the Holy Mountain, he looked forward to the challenge. In a way, it was part of that same journey.

Yet his enthusiasm was tempered by the fact that his Master had been so desperate for assistance but had not called upon him earlier. He refrained from pointing out how his presence earlier may have avoided this trouble. "It will be an honor to take up a task for you again, Master Kyllos. And I will be sure to find time to visit a former Overlord Manor in my travels."

This time, Jollis' senses were more focused, and he did note the odd pause before Kyllos' lips curled into a slow and hesitant smile.

"My Lord, I feel the situation with the Urisi has become intolerable," Gedric said in measured tones within the safe and unheard confines of the Lord Admiral's cabin. It was also one of the few places on board the ship that had managed to remain dry. Everywhere else still looked or smelled of the rain that the recent storm had driven into the timbers.

The Lord Admiral sighed. His chair creaked as he leaned back, his face falling into shadow and bringing attention to his threadbare uniform. A goblet stood near one hand upon the table, its contents untouched. "What new troubles have descended upon us, Fleet Captain?"

"Nothing that was not there before, but for a full quarter moon now."

"I am aware of how much time we have spent in port, Captain," said Vortas in a tired voice.

"Will they not even allow our more critically injured crewmen to be taken ashore?"

"They have been generous in providing Healers."

Gedric's eyes shimmered. He fought the impulse to simply accept the Lord Admiral's word at this point. "With all due respect, my Lord, that is not quite what I had asked."

Vortas surged forward into the light, his face creased into a scowl. "But that is your answer nonetheless! They allow nothing and no one to leave these ships." He swept the goblet into his hand, but paused short of taking a drink. "And I should go easy on this stuff, as we do not have very much left."

"I daresay it will join the men's patience, and I share their frustration."

Vortas put down the goblet and stood. "As we all do, Captain." He folded his hands behind his back and stepped out from behind the table, a long and heavy sigh passing his lips. "I had thought they would have at least shown us the courtesy of allowing us ashore during the storm. We could have left a small contingent to keep the ships secure."

Gedric's eyes burned. "They have already shown themselves to be lacking at seamanship. Perhaps they truly do not understand the basic concept that a lighter ship tends to ride out a storm better when in port."

Vortas raised a finger. "That is quite enough. We are not to disparage our hosts."

"My Lord, they are not hosts, they are prison guards! I understand they wish to keep us incarcerated. But it would be preferable to charge us with some crime, or open up on us with Mage guns. In either case we would have some means to fight as dignified men."

Vortas tilted his head slightly, his eyebrows knitting.

Gedric sighed and forced his voice lower. "I worry more about the well-being of the crew with each passing day. Some of them have been at sea for two seasons or more. They need the comfort of solid land under their feet, or at the very least, the company of a warm and pleasing female body. Have not the Urisi allowed us at least that when we visited their ports in the past?"

"And you believe flooding the ships with a bevy of slaves would set the men at ease?"

"It would make their lot more tolerable. And more civilized." He eyed the goblet upon the table and added, "Some decent wine would also help."

Vortas picked up the goblet and offered it. Gedric raised a hand and shook his head.

"Are you sure?" said Vortas. "It may be the last you can have for some time."

"I never developed a taste for rum, my Lord."

Before Vortas could comment, a shrill whistle from above-deck rose in tone, held, then fell. "All hands! All hands! Prepare to receive Urisi dignitary!"

Gedric was to the door in two long strides.

Vortas grabbed the edge of the door before Gedric could open it enough to allow exit. "No."

Gedric did not turn around. "My Lord, I respectfully request to be allowed to--"

"Denied. You will return to your quarters and let me handle this."

Gedric's eyes shimmered. "Lord Admiral, I do not want the men to regret ever having decided to go this route. Perhaps they were expecting something different. Perhaps I was as well."

Vortas managed a small smile. "Boddas often told me that you seem to find a sense of adventure in anything you do."

Gedric turned around, his face stony. "There is little adventure in sitting in a foreign port waiting for something to happen."

When Vortas had no ready reply, the Fleet Captain tugged the door once more. Vortas let go and watched Gedric leave, waiting until he heard the sound of the door to Gedric's quarters close before venturing forth. He climbed the stairs, crimson light washing over him as he emerged, the sea stretching out from shore as a vast blanket of indigo tinged scarlet under the setting sun.

"Lord Admiral on deck!" shouted the First Mate from near the top of the gangplank, standing at rigid attention. Vortas heard footsteps creaking up the gangplank. Four sailors raced into position, perhaps the few on board that had undamaged pressed whites. They flanked the top of the gangplank two on each side, standing rigid as poles.

Vortas drew himself erect, his broad chest swelling against the fabric of his uniform. The head of the approaching figure appeared first, and Vortas resisted giving any overt reaction. A full beard on a Urisi official? Perhaps this was simply an underling.

The First Mate sounded the whistle again. "Presenting His Lordship Ambassador Norlan of the Urisi Royal Court, in service to His Majesty King Jorrusan the Third!"

Any doubts Vortas had that this was a Urisi official were dispelled not by the First Mate's proclamation, but by the way the man held himself when he stepped onto the deck. He exuded the aloof and self-important air that Vortas had come to expect from such people. The Ambassador's gaze swept the deck and the faces of the sailors that stood as honor guard, as if in evaluation of their worthiness to his station.

The Ambassador finally nodded once. The four sailors bowed their heads in unison, then dispersed. The First Mate gave a crisp salute, then turned on his heel and marched away.

Vortas stepped forward. "You honor us with your presence, Lord Ambassador. We have been hoping for some official contact."

Norlan stepped forward, his hands folded behind him. "The delay was unavoidable given the circumstances," he said in an officious voice, his eyes steady and fixed on those of his host. "I hope you understand the awkward situation this presents for the Urisi Nation."

"To be honest, Lord Ambassador, I do not."

Norlan did not appear to react, save for a moment of pensive silence. He nodded once for Vortas to continue.

"We know only of our own decisions and actions. We have no further insights beyond that."

"So you know not why your government was so adamant about stopping you?"

"Save for wishing to bring us back to Oceanus for potential trial, no, Lord Ambassador." Vortas paused, glancing towards the crewmen that were still affecting repairs from the storm and the battle. "I suppose we assumed that once we were past that point, Oceanus would wash their hands of us and place our fate into your hands. From our incarceration and your opening statements, can I safely assume this is not the case?"

Norlan did not reply immediately. He, too, turned his gaze towards the crew of the ship. "Let me just say that it is more complicated than that." He turned back to Vortas. "Is there somewhere we may speak in private?"

"Of course. Please, follow me."

Vortas led Norlan below-decks . "You have a fine ship here, Lord Admiral," said Norlan. "Several officers from our fleet that escorted you into port commented favorably on the performance of your crew. It is a shame that Oceanus has lost such experienced sailors."

Vortas considered taking the opening and suggesting that they could offer their services to the Urisi navy. He rejected it, concerned that the Lord Ambassador might take that as a veiled insult as to the competence of Urisi sailors. "We did not make this decision lightly, Lord Ambassador. We knew the risks we were taking."

"Including the risks to the sailors that opposed you, whose only 'crime' was loyalty to the Emperor?"

Vortas tensed but refused to lash out. From the stoic way the question had been delivered, he assumed that Norlan was baiting him into an emotional outburst. "We regret every death that happened that day, both among our own and our brethren," Vortas said as they entered his quarters. He picked up the goblet from the table, then gestured to the goblets and the gourd seated upon a shelf. "Please, help yourself to my rum if you wish."

"Pass," Norlan said as he closed the door. "Surely your reasons must have seemed quite important to you at the time."

"And still do. Make no mistake, Lord Ambassador. I may regret the death and the destruction, but I do not regret our decision. Surely you know of the foreign power that has conquered Oceanus?"

"As far as I am aware, Duric Z'garon is still on the throne."

"Which says nothing as to who is actually running Oceanus."

"Are you not pledged to obey the Emperor regardless of his politics?"

Vortas had studied the ambassador since he had arrived, looking for some hint as to the man's agenda. He had heard that the Urisi had an ambassador well-known for keeping his emotions on such an even keel that he revealed nothing of his intentions. Yet Vortas refused to believe that the Urisi knew nothing of the situation in Oceanus; if anything, they should know more than Vortas ever would.

"Had this been a simple political matter, Lord Ambassador, I would not even involve myself," said Vortas. "Navy men are supposed to transcend politics, but that is only if we know from whom our orders come. Z'garon may be occupying the throne, but he is not the one giving the orders."

"And how are you so sure of this, Lord Admiral? Why should we not brand all of you traitors to your nation and thus no longer worthy of any trust or respect? Why should we not try and execute all of you in the spirit of good relations with Oceanus? Perhaps we consider your actions to be heinous no matter what power they were directed against."

Vortas glanced into his goblet, considered taking a drink, but put it down upon the table instead. "Because, by your own words, it is more complicated than that. Perhaps I should tell you of the events preceding our decision."

The Ambassador listened with equanimity as Vortas described how Emperor Z'haas had ordered another fleet to attack an Overlord Manor, how Vortas had arrived to speak with the Captain of the fleet, and how he had convinced the Captain to stay the attack until Z'garon had taken the throne.

"While I was heading back to my fleet, Lord Ambassador, we spent a day becalmed. By the time the winds came up again, the lookout had spotted the limping hulks of two frigates from the fleet I had just left. They relayed to me an incredible tale of foreign dreadnoughts that had appeared out of nowhere and tore our fleet to shreds! By the time we had returned to port, we found ourselves in an Oceanus where the Overlord slave manors were disbanded and the Noble Lords deposed and their castles and palaces abandoned! Surely you know of the fate of the Overlord system, for the Urisi bought nearly every last slave the nation ever had."

Vortas looked for some sign that he had managed to disturb the Ambassador, but Norlan's manner remained a maddening display of calm, as if the Lord Admiral had done nothing more than relay the details of a holiday he had taken. Yet Norlan did pause, finally having no ready reply.

Vortas had tried to keep the bitterness from his voice. His opinions towards the Overlord slave system were fairly neutral; it existed -- had existed -- and he had accepted it. His "tour" of Roquan's manor had been a pleasant one, and he could appreciate the slaves for their beauty. The act of ripping them from Oceanus, even if reasonable prices had been paid for them (and who pocketed that platinum?) smacked of an unfair deal, a shameless exploitation of Oceanus' weakness.

"Ships do not appear out of nowhere, Lord Admiral," said Norlan.

Finally. Norlan's voice had been neutral, but a forced neutral. Vortas thought the Ambassador stood a bit more rigid, the lines on his face more tense. "Neither do men, but men use Portals all the time," said Vortas. "Had you not heard of this incident?"

Norlan again paused. "We have heard no official reports of an engagement between the Oceanus navy and a foreign power. One would believe that, given the experience of the Oceanus navy and the fact that the battle was supposedly a rout by your words, a foreign navy capable of escaping detection for so long and besting a whole Oceanus fleet would be far more widely known that it is."

"I cannot offer you any rational explanation, Lord Ambassador. I only know what happened."

"Did you confirm this for yourself? Did you see the actual foreign ships?"

"I did not. Considering the state of the surviving ships -- and that they were the only ones to survive -- I thought it best not to risk my fleet by returning to the site of the battle."

"And yet you risked them in a decision that was guaranteed to--"

"We drift from the subject, Lord Ambassador!" declared Vortas. "We have already stated and restated the consequences of our actions. Cease bludgeoning me with them."

Norlan allowed himself a small smile, which Vortas understood was at his own expense. He cursed himself silently for letting the ambassador rattle him. "As you wish. Please, continue."

"Is it not plainly obvious by now why we came to suspect who was really in charge of Oceanus? To be quite honest with you, I wish they had deposed Z'garon! Then it would have been a much easier decision to make, and I doubt I would have been alone."

After a pause, Norlan prompted, "Is that all?"

"Is that not enough?"

Norlan slowly paced the length of the room, appearing deep in thought. Or it could be another tactic intended to rattle the Lord Admiral further.

Perhaps it had worked, for Vortas was unable to tolerate the silence. "I have presented my case as well as I am able, Lord Ambassador. We need only learn what our fate is to be. We have requested asylum. If you will not grant it, we will accept that. We hope you will show mercy on us, and that you understand and share the same fear we have about the nature of this new Oceanus government. We simply want to know one way or the other and not remain in limbo."

"My apologies for the accommodations," said Norlan. "Or for the lack of them as it were. Oceanus has made it very clear that you are all to be kept under close guard."

Vortas scowled. "I beg your pardon?"

Norlan studied the Lord Admiral's face. "That is a surprise to you?"

"I cannot make it any more obvious than that! You say this request came from Oceanus?"

"I did."

"And you are honoring it?"

"We choose to honor it."

"You are under no obligation to do so."

"The operative word here, Lord Admiral, is choose. We can choose not to, if we have a compelling enough reason to change our mind. Can you offer one?"

Vortas' scowl deepened. "You already have our manifests. We carry nothing of any particular interest. Most likely this is the new regime in Oceanus wishing to make some sort of example of us. And of you."

Norlan raised an eyebrow, too deliberate an action to be merely a reaction to Vortas' words.

Vortas stepped up to Norlan. "Yes, of you. They want to see if you will roll over for them on command."

Norlan allowed himself another smile. "You seem to have much insight into a foreign power you have claimed to know so little about."

"Dammit, man, do not play semantics with me!" Vortas roared. "It takes only a simple application of logic to realize that Oceanus' new masters are seeing how far they can push their relationship with you."

"And you assume we have not pushed back? His Majesty has forced Oceanus to send their representatives to us by ship rather than Portal. Do not assume that the Urisi are slackers when it comes to diplomatic intercourse."

Vortas uttered a windy sigh. "My apologies, Lord Ambassador. Understand that this has been a strain on all of us. I offer that as an explanation, however, and not an excuse. But I fear you have handed me a large disappointment."

"I have?"

"You have no more further insight as to the changes in Oceanus than we do."

Norlan said nothing in response, keeping a level gaze upon the Lord Admiral.

"Tell me, Lord Ambassador: if the contingent from Oceanus demands that you hand us over to them, what will you do?"

"I cannot discuss that. It is far too early to consider such things." Norlan glanced around the cabin and stepped towards the door. He turned back towards Vortas. "It is always possible we will eventually hear a compelling reason for us to choose to resist extradition."

Vortas frowned and fell into his chair. His only response was a glare.

Norlan nodded once. "I feel this initial meeting is at the end of its usefulness. I will return at a later time when I have more to share." He gave the Lord Admiral a meaningful look. "Or if you have more to share."

Vortas said nothing until Norlan had grasped the handle and turned it. "One moment, Lord Ambassador."

Norlan paused with the door cracked open and turned his gaze expectantly to Vortas.

"I will accept the need to keep us incarcerated in our ships. But that does not mean we should be treated as caged animals."

"You have a request?"

"Some small comforts would be a boon to the crew. Rail all you wish at the decisions made by myself and my officers, but many of the men simply followed orders as good sailors should. They deserve something to keep their minds off their predicament. And feel free to blame me for that as well, but the fact still remains that these men--"

"I will see what I can do, Lord Admiral, though I promise nothing. Good day to you."

Vortas did not bother responding as the Lord Ambassador left the cabin, closing the door behind him.

Mandas clenched his hands into fists in his effort to contain his excitement. "Are you sure of this, Your Excellency?"

The scowling, shimmering Farview image of Erodon hovered before Mandas and his Runner. The glow of the audience was the only light save for the fading embers of dusk and the lanterns mounted on poles at the other end of the pier, where several guards stood at attention at the bottom of the gangplank. "And when did you know me to say anything that I was unsure of, Mandas?" Erodon said. "Or are you about to suggest that I am addled in my head?"

"Not at all, Your Excellency! My apologies."

Erodon winced. "Ugh. Never have two words so grated on my ears like nails raked across slate. I would not be surprised to find the words 'my apologies' emblazoned upon your family crest."

Mandas accepted the insult and offered no reaction. His mind was already racing with possibilities. Oceanus had sent only a single ship towards the Urisi. They were after at most a handful of people. Or only one.

"That is all I have for you," the High Minister said. "Now I will terminate this Farview. I had hoped that the distance would make you less of a crashing bore. Alas, I was wrong."

"My apol ... ah, I mean, good day to you, Your--"

The Farview image vanished. Mandas would have sworn that the scowl had remained as a ghostly afterglow for a few moments longer.

Footsteps and the creak of wood drew Mandas' attention. The guards at the end of the gangplank whirled around and crossed their swords as a crewman from the ship escorted Norlan down the gangplank, a lantern bobbing in his hand. As Norlan approached, the guards raised their swords, only to cross them again with a sharp scrape of steel after he had passed. The crewman had already turned and trudged back towards the deck.

Mandas hissed at his Runner, "Go away."

His Runner bowed his head and fled. Mandas raised his eyes to his approaching rival, his lips curling into a tiny smirk.

"Standing out here in the dark, Mandas?" Norlan quipped. "How terribly apropos for you."

Mandas sneered. "Really, now? And did the great Norlan glean any insights? Was the Lord Admiral so blinded by your brilliance that he confessed some nefarious scheme to you?"

Norlan's smile was tight. "All this bluster could only mean that you have some tiny snippet of information that you believe either I don't know or that I would care about if I did know."

"So you say!"

"Really, it's a wonder you became an ambassador at all. You hardly know how to hide your own feelings let alone understand those of others. So what is it?"

"And you think I will give this to you for nothing?"

Norlan sighed. "As much as I hate to give you more ammunition -- though your wit is admittedly a very short-range weapon -- I did not obtain any definitive information from what the Lord Admiral had said."

"Perhaps you will remember that the next time you choose to do something like this alone when we are supposed to be working together."

"I cannot be held to your erratic schedule. And you hear but do not listen. Nothing he said gave me any information. What he did not say spoke volumes."

Mandas frowned. "About what?"

"That he has little clue as to why Oceanus wants to keep them here. I am inclined to believe him."

Mandas' frown quickly morphed into another smirk. "Or they're simply very good at hiding it. Or they're very good at covering for whomever Oceanus wants."

"Oh, you mean this theory of yours that they desire only one person?" Norlan asked in a bored voice.

"Oceanus is sending only one ship."

Norlan paused. "How do you know this?"

"Perhaps working for His Majesty has more advantages than you care to admit, Norlan."

"Whatever. Keep your petty secret, then. The point you seem to be missing, Mandas, is that this could very well be no more than a political matter internal to Oceanus. We would be wise not to blow it up into something more than it is."

Mandas held back a sharp retort, lest he fall into the same trap of letting Norlan rile him to the point where all he did was hurl insults which would slide off Norlan like water into the gutter. "So you resolved nothing."

"The Lord Admiral has requested some comforts for his men. I am considering recommending that the request be granted."

Mandas managed to hold back a smile. "Such as?"

"He did not specify, but I can guess. Fine food and wine, some modest luxuries, and female companionship."

"Slaves?"

"You have a wonderful talent for stating the blindingly obvious, Mandas."

"And whose slaves will you offer, Norlan?"

Norlan paused and glanced towards the ship.

Mandas smirked. "I doubt you will find many High Lords willing to let their slaves be used by a bunch of crude and unrefined sailors."

"For once you are correct." Norlan returned his gaze to Mandas. "I suppose I will have to offer my own."

In the pause that followed, Norlan fixed his gaze on Mandas, as if expectant. Mandas realized this would be the point that he would hurtle some insult about the poorly trained cows that Norlan passed off as proper slaves. The words had already formed in his head and clamored to be spoken. Instead, Mandas said, "But not before the High Feast."

"No, not before the High Feast, which is in less than a quarter moon."

"And it will hardly be enough."

"Indeed, it will not," Norlan said slowly, his gaze wary. "I suppose I will need to negotiate with a lower Lord for the rest. Perhaps High Lord Ardon will be accommodating in letting me approach one of his vassals."

Again, Norlan waited, staring at Mandas as if in a silent dare. Again, Mandas refused to take the opening and said nothing.

"Is that all you wish of me?" Norlan finally asked.

"Unless there is more you have heard from the Lord Admiral that you have not told me."

Norlan paused, then shook his head.

"Then good day to you." Mandas turned and marched off the pier.

Norlan stared, somewhat nonplussed, until Mandas withdrew his focusing pearl from his tunic and stepped into the Portal that subsequently opened before him.

The orb of Mage Glass lay nestled in a niche carved atop a pedestal of petrified wood, one of the few naturally occurring materials that was magically inert; no magical energy could flow through it, nor could any spells be tied to its structure. The air itself held a faint electric charge, which further retarded any leakage of magical energy. As Mage Q'land and Katla approached the orb, their hair puffed outward, crackling with static electricity.

Within the orb, energies swirled in a seemingly random mottled violet and gray pattern. Uroddus watched from a discreet distance, as did half a dozen other Mages, all careful to keep their own energies quiescent.

Uroddus watched with curiosity as Q'land approached the orb. His head was bowed, his eyes hooded. He raised his hands with palms pressed together before extending them ahead of him as he neared the orb, bowing his head further as if in abasement before a god.

Katla, by contrast, kept her head up and her gaze leveled at the orb until one could almost see the swirls of light reflected from her eyes. Her face was a rigid mask of concentration, and her hands remained clamped about the parchment pallet and self-inking quill pen as she approached.

They simultaneously diverted their attention from the orb to each other, nodded once in unison, then opened themselves to the energy of the orb. The light around them dimmed, and a gentle thrumming vibrated through the stones under Uroddus' feet. Behind each Mage, Traditionalists and Empiricists established a magical link with their representative and shared in the flow of information from the orb.

Uroddus noted how well both sides were working together on this endeavor, yet he also noted how they still remained segregated on exact opposite sides of the chamber.

Q'land and the other Traditionalists remained as still and silent as statues. Katla's quill scratched across the parchment at regular intervals, and the other Empiricists occasionally nodded and muttered softly among themselves.

The tableau remained for at least a full candlemark. Finally, Q'land drew in a long breath and let it go as a single, gusty sigh as he stepped back from the orb. Katla made one final note on her parchment and stepped back as well.

"Did you feel that?" said Q'land.

Katla's eyes flitted over her figures. "Can you be a little more specific?"

"A little over a half-candlemark in. A very slight surge. And ... hmm ..." He turned to his fellow Traditionalists, several of whom were nodding their heads. "Yes, some of you sensed it as well."

Katla's eyebrows knit as she examined her data. Several Empiricists stepped forward with parchments of their own. Katla glanced at theirs and then hers, pointing to similar figures on multiple parchments and nodding. "Yes, I concur," she said to them, then turned back to Q'land. "The numbers are erratic at this point. A lot of noise is making its way into the calculations."

"You need to look for the pattern in the chaos," said Q'land.

"That is not easily quantified."

"Perhaps not, but it is there nevertheless. It is more the nature of the surge that I find interesting. It implies a metaversal energy wave."

Katla frowned as she stared at the numbers. "The problem is that the signal is so faint. You could very well be right, or it could be an anomaly in the data that mimics the signature of that wave."

Q'land turned to his colleagues. There was some muttering, a few brief debates, then more nodding of heads. "Yes, that is possible. It was very brief." He gave Katla a small smile. "And I admit to operating on some intuition."

"Do we have a location for the Portal?" Uroddus asked.

"Now that I can definitely tell you," said Katla. "No mistaking it, Guildmaster. This came from the Portal that resided in the D'ronstaq Manor."

"Yes, we concur," Q'land said. "Most definitely from there."

"A metaversal wave is associated with breaching the dimensional barrier," Uroddus said. "To reach other worlds as the Overlords did when acquiring new slaves."

Katla looked over her numbers. A few fellow Empiricists did as well and shook their heads with at least one frustrated sigh. "With as much statistical noise as we see in this data, I can't be sure."

"And it makes no sense," Q'land said. "The Inonni would have little reason to use old Overlord Portals reach other worlds."

"And one would assume that their technology can achieve such a thing anyway," said Uroddus. "I must confess that trans-universe Portal travel is an area in which my knowledge is deficient."

"We have yet to derive the basic formulae for it," Katla said. "We were so focused on the domestic Portals due to the crisis that it didn't seem important. And as for why the Inonni are doing such a thing, they could simply be interested in Oceanus technology, even if more primitive compared to theirs."

"Then why attempt to hide it?" Q'land said. "I still believe there is a dampening field of sorts being employed, but metaversal waves are hard to mask. There is always some interdimensional leakage."

"That's still circumstantial. These figures--"

"I would suggest working more closely with the Traditionalists," Uroddus said. "This is obviously an area in which they are more advanced than the Empiricists."

Several Empiricists frowned and muttered amongst themselves.

"What we need is a way to get measurements closer to the source," Katla declared. She looked squarely at the Traditionalists. "And we would need the expatriates for that."

Now the Traditionalists muttered with dark expressions on their faces.

"Let us not politicize this," Uroddus said. "Katla, please direct your colleagues to begin work quantifying the metaversal components of Portal operation. Work closely with the Traditionalists, as they have the experience. Thank you, all, this was very enlightening."

Uroddus left the chamber. In the hall, Q'kollan came alongside him. "Well-played."

"I said only the truth. This is new territory for the Empiricists."

"Yes, doubly so, I would say. Interdimensional operation of a Portal relies on a great deal of intuition. There are chaotic energies at work that change from moment to moment. This is why calibrating the Overlord Portals was such delicate work. Only the best Mages were up to the task."

"Who is the best at such work?"

"Sadly, few could approach Q'yros' level of ability, and he is no longer with us."

"He may have left some notes behind. I will order that his quarters be unsealed."

Q'kollan gave the Guildmaster a sharp look. "That will not go over well. It is traditional to keep a Mage Elder's quarters sealed for one year after his death."

"I am aware of that. But these are extraordinary circumstances. And I can personally attest to the fact that Q'yros had an innate knowledge of Portal mechanics, even if from a strictly Traditionalist view."

"In which case, he may not have documented anything."

"True. But if there is any chance that his knowledge survived his death--"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Q'kollan said, his voice testy. "Forgive me, Guildmaster, my ire is not directed at you but at your blasted predecessor. He could have had the decency to perform a Magery Transfer when he entered the Oath with Q'yros."

Uroddus understood. Among the Traditionalists, where knowledge was rarely written down, the Magery Transfer was the usual means of transferring knowledge to others. It imbued the Mage's knowledge into the very structure of the Guild Hall itself, where over time it would "radiate" into the minds of the other Mages.

"I must say this, Mage Elder Q'kollan. This is one area where I believe the Empiricists have an infinitely better system. Writing down knowledge means it is immediately available in its entirety, and one need not wait for it to percolate into minds at a slow and random rate. This, I feel, is why Magery has made little advancement over the past century."

"I would agree with you, Guildmaster," said Q'kollan. "Though the Traditionalist system has the advantage that the knowledge becomes innate. With your system, one can read the concepts but understanding takes time."

"As always, the answer is likely closer to the middle. However, we should let that discussion wait until another time. Has there been any word from the courier that I sent?"

"It is too soon. It is unlikely he has reached his overseas contact yet." Q'kollan glanced at Uroddus. "I am still not sure that was a wise move."

"It is only a message to be relayed on behalf of someone else."

"You downplay it, Guildmaster. It represents a very critical piece of information in an unfolding geopolitical crisis."

"Nevertheless, I have pledged the Guild's assistance in Lord Tarras' resistance group, and I will honor that obligation. We must realize that there is a larger struggle going on, and--"

Uroddus stopped. Q'kollan had walked a few more steps before he realized that the Guildmaster was no longer with him. "What is it?"

"I am being summoned to Farview," said Uroddus. "By Marlon."

"Really?"

"You are surprised?"

"Frankly, yes. But no matter, let us see what he has to say."

"I will take this in private," said Uroddus. At his advisor's askance look, he added, "I wish to make him more comfortable in speaking to me. I intend to inform you of everything that is discussed."

Q'kollan nodded. "Very well. I will meet with you later."

Uroddus rushed down the corridor leading to his office. He closed the door and waved his hand to activate the privacy seal. He turned towards an empty space in one corner. "I accept the summons."

Marlon's image shimmered into view. "Huh. You actually responded."

"Yes. If I was delayed, it was only because I wanted to seek a private place for this discussion. What do you wish of me?"

Marlon was holding one of the parchment scrolls he had been given during his brief visit to the Guild. He glanced down at it, then turned his head as if someone nearby had said something to him. "I know that!" he snapped. "We've been over this. Now hush and let me talk to him." He turned back towards Uroddus. "Sorry. There's been a lot of contention here over whether I should have contacted you this soon."

"Has something happened?"

"Well, you could say that." He gave the Guildmaster a smirk devoid of any humor. "I guess I got that leadership role I said I didn't have or didn't want. So congratulate yourself, Guildmaster. You're the first one to get so many of us to agree on anything in a long time."

"I am glad to see the expatriates working together. It bodes well."

"Yeah, well, maybe you won't think that way after what I have to tell you. That is, the other thing I have to tell you. First off, it looks like you'll get your wish. We'll help you."

Uroddus let out a relieved sigh. "I am very grateful, Mage Marlon. We do indeed have a task with which you can assist. But what is the other announcement that appears to concern you so?"

Marlon glanced down at the parchment again. "This stuff you gave us about the Inonni. It mentions someone named Jollis."

"It is my understanding that he was some sort of agent who was instrumental in bringing about Oceanus' fall."

Marlon frowned. "Yeah, so it says."

"He apparently left Oceanus when his task was completed."

"Well, I just heard from some of our brethren up around the Imperial Palace. It seems he's back. And now he's left the Palace and all but vanished into thin air. And it's been my experience that when people like him disappear like that, it's because they wanted to. He's after something, Guildmaster. And I have a bad feeling it's us."

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