I greeted the Stronghold as I stepped through into the undercavern.

Light One, he sent, the deep, rumbling of his mental voice crushed rock. I am pleased to see you, as always.

You, too. I hesitated, stared at the statue of the drach lord I'd come to see, hated how much it hurt he'd given up on me the way he had. And yet, could I blame him, ultimately? He'd paid such a massive price for our last victory. He had to have believed it ...