Stepping into the dining room, Etzli felt an odd sort of deja vu. During the Criterion, she faced her first trial in the ancient ruins of a banquet hall cut deep into a mountain.

And now here she was again, in another banquet hall, in another mountain.

All the guests were already enjoying their soup course. They chatted in a restrained, businesslike manner.

At the sudden intrusion of Etzli, Malcolm, and Greenleaf entering, the guests looked up. ...