V’karra seemed to look within for a moment and Ilissos was aware of the communication rippling out from his mind to the other vraakhin. He saw each of them make tiny, careful movements with their hands before the southerner spoke again in his deep, enchanted voice.
“Much of the power of the south lies in knowledge.”
The word rolled forward like a wave, laden with enchantment and a sweet promise of significance, a gift to make one count at last. It seeped easily into Gizhurthra’s eager, undefended mind and meshed with his barren, yearning heart.
“Our brotherhood has... understanding,” V’karra went on. “We are those who know, and thus we are set apart. We have looked into the secret things. We have power to move the ancient energies. We are hidden, but we are the great ones of the earth.
