Gro-Tagnud was still for exactly two silent seconds between them. He then spun on his heel to step behind his desk and open a drawer. he spoke while filing through a pile of papers without looking up. "And our timetable? Tell me your best estimates for how long each stage will take once our forces rendezvous in your cavern."

The last request hinted that Gro-Tagnud had been spared few details on the circumstances. Likely he knew everything Marod did about the Blackreach.

[hr]
Rhazii opened his mouth and tilted his head and eyes to one side. "Well, Meesei told me a few things last night," he said. He was not exactly nervous so much as thinking hard on how to put together such an odd request. "She said you joined the pack when you were only a few years older than me. I was thinking...would you mind telling me what it was like for you in the first few years?" Kaleeth's smile made Rhazii comfortable enough to laugh once and rub the back of his neck. "I was too young to remember."