I woke up alone. Groaned as I rolled over on my side, my whole body hurting, taking a moment to realize what had actually happened.

That Jiao, my friend, had betrayed me to the Order.

No, there had to be a reason, an explanation. I sat up on the stone bench where I'd been lying, passed out for who knew how long. A quick inventory of my person turned up no physical injuries aside from feeling like I'd run headlong into a brick ...