I didn't stay in the moonlit garden for long after my conversation with my mother. The revelations about the Nightingales, about Tiamat's ancient plan, about the true nature of my existence—all of it was staggering in scope and implication. But regardless of cosmic conspiracies and thousand-year-old dragon schemes, I had immediate responsibilities to attend to.
Getting kidnapped by one of the world's three Popes while holding the title of Rank 1 was certainly far from ideal, politically speaking. The assembled rulers and dignitaries would be wondering where I'd disappeared to, and my prolonged absence would raise questions I wasn't prepared to answer publicly.
As I approached the banquet hall, my enhanced senses detected the familiar energy signatures of the assembled guests, but also something new—another presence that hadn't been there when Alyssara had so dramatically interrupted the evening's festivities.
