The discussion on what Traven was up to was short. Neither Jorick or Oren seemed to know. When they fell into an uneasy silence, she suggested the artifact Beldren had mentioned.

Oren stared at her. "What artifact?"

"Not that again!" Jorick all but rolled his eyes. He offered Oren a brief and reluctant explanation and finished with, "Let him look, not that it will do him any good."

Oren shifted uncomfortably. "If that was his goal, why would he offer to join the ...