Grooming and Drio were no longer on intimate terms and sanity appeared to have pulled a runner as well. In wrinkled clothing, a bushy dark blond beard covered his face, and his red-rimmed eyes were only slightly less vivid than the purple bags under them.

"Where? Is? She?"

"Hybris isn't actually here." I yelped and portalled briefly out of the room, sidestepping Drio's flash-step in my direction.

I portalled back in. Silver magic crackled over my skin, level ...