Janius had served Rhazii just as big a piece of cake by the time the nameless girl talked. He bit into his sweetcake and spoke through his mouthful, launching a few crumbs in front of him. "Bring rots o' cake! We'll all come, dff if grea'!"

[hr]
Gallus looked around at the various giant mushroom stalks. Words came to him eventually. "If it wasn't the Orcrest clan, Ri'vashi, it would have been another. I know you have been doing what you can with the resources we have." He paused. "It doesn't bring them back, nothing will. But...we have to fight. Like we have for years now."

All of a sudden, Gallus' voice became more resolute. "There'll be a lucky break, somewhere. Perhaps even as a result of showing their hand at Orcrest. Something that'll turn this around. I have a good sense for this stuff. And even if we don't find it for another decade..." Gallus bent forward just enough to be at Ri'vashi's eye level. He had a stone face, cracked by a tear that had escaped his red eyes and left a wet line down his cheek. "None of us are going to stop fighting."