“Another Allentrian representative,” he said, nodding. “We are gathering many allies.”
The humans retired underground. A helpful dwarf showed them to a cozy meeting cave. Max was brought some hot water and day-old bread—Korestrach had tightened its belt again after the exposure of the Rift, doling out rations most stingily—and once the rest of their group had assembled to greet him, he launched into his tale.
“I don’t know how I managed to survive the Battle of Fyrxav,” he admitted, clutching his glazed stone mug and allowing the wafting steam to cloud his face. The wear and tear of travel and trauma had dulled him. He seemed a faded echo of what he had been.
“It’s a miracle,” Seba breathed. She sat beside him, one hand on his shoulder. She hadn’t stopped staring at him since the moment
