I materialized in the lower level of the Council house where we usually held our meetings. It wasn't a formal meeting, so we didn't have the long table out. Everyone present was lounging on the modern furniture talking like old friends.

Tony was conspicuously absent.

I'm sure he had to change his shirt.

Malarias, Alexis' replacement, stood alone by the fireplace with his old, stooped shoulders. He was at least a thousand years old and looked every bit of it. ...