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Annon ducked slightly as he entered and found the pavilion full of bodies The Thirteen were a ht of all of them and his pulse quickened orry Each wore an ornate talis on the country they hailed frohtened, he felt several sets of eyes on hi him They were all much older, several well silvered, but none of the They all had accoutrements of sos Some even had torcs, sieroup and Annon felt hi in their presence and under their intense scrutiny

The others asse the lead and striding to the front of the council, his bearing confident He had stood before theranted

Palmanter spoke first "Welcome to Canton Vaud You are safe here Be at ease" He sat on a co his cheek "Introductions, before we begin" He motioned to Tyrus

Tyrus nodded in acceptance "You are quite aware of who I am Let me introduce the rest This is Annon of Wayland, son of Merinda Druidecht" He paused deliberately, his hand cupped toward Annon

"She died during your last foray," one of the Thirteen muttered darkly

Tyrus was as hard as flint He did not respond to the comment "Khiara Shaliah of the royal house of Silvandom Friend of Canton Vaud" There were nods in respect to her Annon saw her bearing as aloof She gripped her long, tapered staff, al on it Her knuckles still bore the scars of their troubles in the mountains Tyrus motioned next to the Rike "Lukias of Kenatos Provost-Rike" There were estured at the Kishion "This man is known to many of you, in rumors if not by name He is one of the Arch-Rike’s Kishion He aids in our quest"

"Your quest," one of the Thirteen muttered, a hter, Phae of Stonehollow She is Dryad-Born"

Annon saw the ripple of shock go through their faces The looks varied froust--the blend conjured made Annon doubt whether Tyrus should have irl herself seeazes

"Impossible…"

"A cruel trick?"

"This cannot be condoned…"

"Patience," Pal for the others "The time for questions will come in due course Be silent, Stoern Kepniss, hush I will introduce us, as there are ers to you all" Palht as Tyrus He looked older, but only because his hair was silver He paced slowly in front of the others, his head bowed low in thought He started at the far end of the seesturing toward the bird-like woman who had met them in the woods She was very distrustful, her expression one of open contempt and wariness She had auburn hair and Annon wondered if she possessed the fireblood As each na and he was able to do next to her was tall and bluff, his face square He had black hair that was fringed with gray along the temples His skin was dark and he had the look of a man who could wield a hammer and chisel A small s to Stoern His robes were rumpled and dusty "Zannich of Stonehollow," Palmanter said

The next was another woman, a Vaettir ore the talisman She was not a Bhikhu or a Shaliah Her hair was cut short in a bob and she had an intense look Not one of judg forward in her chair, her eyes taking the the Thirteen She was an Archivist in the past" Annon noticed Tyrus’s sudden interest in the woer around the shoulders and fairer haired than Annon expected "Skogen of Lydi" Theto the the Kishion’s There was a sleek spirit ani, thick tail Its eyes were also probing the him she was there