Three chapters from the POV of anyone but Caoilfhionn for once, because he's taking a damn nap during LW3.

45: Putting the World Back Together

Damara sighed contently over her hot chocolate in Salma's Mug. It was so good to be back home! And the world would take care of itself for at least a few weeks – at least, it had better, because she didn't want to go anywhere for a bit. And she knew everyone else in Hope's Legacy felt the same.

She'd missed Wintersday, but Petra had forgiven her, was just glad to have her back, especially after she described everything in the Heart of Maguuma. And she was really, really glad to see the rest of her pets, to introduce a couple new ones to the farm, a tiger named Will and a couple of young wyverns named Night and Force. She hoped they would do okay outside of the jungle, where it was a bit colder and less humid in the winter. But as she lavished love and affection on them, and listened attentively to their needs, they didn't seem to mind the change in location. That was the key to having so many exotic companions – to listen to them, and tell them what was unacceptable behavior, and cuddle them when they wanted it. That went for people too, she supposed.

They'd sent the Pact home; some had asked if they were getting a new Marshal, with Trahearne taking his very well-deserved nap with his loving husband, but there hadn't been any consensus between senior leadership when they met to discuss it before splitting up. Annhilda had shook her head. "I'm not sure I want to even retain second-in-command privileges. This campaign was incredibly stressful. Kudos to Trahearne for running two of them, but I might withdraw to save the world in my own way from now on."

"I don't believe I'm eligible, as I'm already second-in-command of the Vigil," Laranthir had said. "What about you, Damara? Phiadi?"

She had blinked. "Um. I don't think I'm cut out for that sort of all-powerful role."

And even Phiadi had hesitated. "I would love to! ...But I need to talk to some people first."

"Well, there's no need to make a decision right now," Annhilda had said. "We'll each lead our respective Orders home and take a rest. The Order heads can decide if they want to do this again. There's no new Dragons being belligerent yet."

"Don't jinx it," Damara had teased her, and then when they reached Lion's Arch, had helped Laranthir bring the Vigil back to their Keep before heading west to home, finally. She was really excited to catch up with Petra and Andrew, and a bunch of fanmail had built up while she was away. It was still thrilling to get fanmail, even after almost three years since she'd become a hero.

The chime sounded on the door as she sipped her hot chocolate, and a customer came in, stamping snow from his boots and blowing on his hands. "Ahh, what a wonderful thing it is to be in out of the cold... Lady Damara!"

"Lord Faren," she said, with as much surprise as him. "What brings you here?"

"Why, I was visiting on your behalf, of course! You asked me to." He came to grab a stool at the bar beside her, beaming proudly.

She was still confused. "I asked you to let them know I was okay, and that was weeks ago. Did you not get around to it until..."

"No, no, I came as soon as I got back! And since then, I've been visiting to keep your lovely friend company. She's very charming, and I had to come reassure her that you would be fine. But of course, now you're back! Why didn't you come let me know?"

"Hey, Petra," Damara called. "Has Lord Faren been a pain?"

"No," Petra said, bringing over a glass of wine to him – without being asked, Damara, noted suspiciously. "He's been very friendly. But not, you know, too friendly." Damara relaxed again.

"Thank you, fair Petra," Faren proclaimed, and raised his glass to her. "I aim only to please!"

"Anyway, I only just got back a couple days ago," Damara told him. "I'm glad you made it back safely. How are your... companions?"

"We all made it back safely, thank the Six," Faren said. "Through trials and dangers we emerged unscathed! -Through the aid of the Pact in the Silverwastes, as well as my courage and skill, naturally. Jasmina, however, has given over association with me. I think she's still mad. I don't really know why, I said I was sorry... Merula, though, is an absolute jewel-"

Damara tuned him out for a bit. It was enough to know that all the silly ponces who'd gone into the Heart of Maguuma had come back out, and Divinity's Reach had not been thrown into grieving or unrest based on Faren's foolishness. It was still a bit distracting, to have him sitting right next to her, so cheerful and loquacious and broad-shouldered, even if he was currently talking about people who didn't interest her.

"But enough about me!" Faren eventually said. Had he switched back to talking about himself? She hadn't noticed. Oops. "Tell me of your struggle with the Dragon! Was it fearsome? Were you dashing? Of course you were dashing."

She had to laugh a bit. "I didn't actually get to fight the Dragon myself. I held off the Mordrem while Caoilfhionn and Caithe and Canach and Braham went in. It was kind of scary, yeah, especially when we all thought it was going to take over Trahearne and we'd have to fight it all over again and lose Trahearne in the process... but Caoilfhionn saved him too, the absolute madlad."

"You told it better yesterday," Petra said. "Go on, start at the beginning."

Damara gave Petra a 'what gives?' look, because while she could have told the story better, she didn't think Faren was worth starting from the beginning for, but Petra egged her on with her own looks, so she shrugged. "All right, well, back when the Pact launched, we were actually trying to find Caithe because she'd run off with something very important..."

Annhilda strolled up to the Stonewright's Steading with her welcome-back gift tucked under her arm – smoked meats from her family, and a new chisel she'd wrangled from a colleague at the Priory. Many Norn and others were already gathered there, skaalds, sculptors, havrouns, and Knut of course. Though, as she looked around, she didn't see Braham anywhere.

Knut greeted her. "Hail, Slayer! Good to see you. I knew you wouldn't miss this."

"Of course not," Annhilda said, smiling. "Where's Eir? Is everyone mobbing her at once like you did me that one time?"

Knut cleared his throat. "No, we're trying to keep everything orderly. She's... well, perhaps you'd best speak to her yourself. She's inside right now. But before I forget, congratulations on your victory! That's two now!"

"The Spirits smiled upon us," Annhilda said. "Long may the skaalds sing of it!"

"Forever and a day! But don't let me keep you. Help yourself to food and ale!"

"Thanks, Knut," Annhilda said, and moved on, grabbing a mug as he suggested before moving on to the conspicuous blindfolded Charr holding forth near the door.

"She had him dead to rights, and we all knew it," Rytlock boomed. "And what was he going to do? Beg? Plead? Wasn't his style, and Eir wouldn't buy it anyway, so he just jumped off the ledge! Well, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of escape – even to his death; she shot him before he hit the ground!" He laughed and slapped his leg. "Damn, that Norn knew how to exact revenge!"

The youngsters he was regaling laughed too, and cheered. "Well-told," Annhilda told Rytlock. It wasn't in the style of the skaalds, but what did it matter? It was a story from Eir's own pack-mate.

"Yeah, well, everyone was getting a little too hung up about Eir's new disability, including Eir," Rytlock said. "Thought I'd remind everyone she's had a life-time of taking no tripe from anyone, and I don't expect her to start now, legs or no."

"Sounds about right," Annhilda said. "Have you seen her already?"

"Yeah, but I'll come in again with you. I've got stuff to talk to both of you about, anyway."

"All right." Annhilda went in, and others graciously made way for her and waved her in, even though they were lined up already, calling her Slayer.

There was Eir, sitting in a wheelchair, out of armour, Garm's head resting on her knee. She didn't look right, just sitting there in normal clothes, and there was an air of defeat about her, though she was trying to hide it. But she brightened to see Annhilda. "Annhilda! Good to see you. Get over here."

"Eir!" Annhilda cried. She ran forward to give Eir a hug. "Brought you a token of my regard."

"Why, thank you," Eir said, accepting the package. She heaved a sigh. "I've got too many gifts. And I didn't even do anything." She glanced towards a table piled high with similar packages. "I won't walk again. I intended to retire, but to have my legend cut short like this... I can't talk to just anyone about it, but I can tell you – it sucks dolyak sweat."

"You killed Faolain," Rytlock said. "You survived the jungle, even if you never fight again."

"And that's more than many can say," Eir said, nodding. "Doesn't mean I deserve all this... adulation."

Annhilda crossed her arms, disagreeing. "I know you'd wish for your retirement to be on your own terms, but no one can drag you out to fight any more bloody dragons now."

"True, true. Except Braham thinks he has to do it for me, and... well, I'd hoped we'd be able to spend more time together, but he's run off to do just that."

"Huh? Is that why I haven't seen him?"

Eir nodded. "He's out in the wilderness somewhere, trying to find a way to take down Jormag. I tried to tell him to slow down, but he's as reckless and headstrong as I used to be."

Annhilda nodded. She could imagine Braham seeing his mother, once proud and strong, now helpless and upset over being helpless, and seizing upon the thought of continuing her legacy with both hands. He probably didn't want to come to the party since it was, in a way, an acknowledgement of Eir's fall. "He'll calm down eventually. We just have to be patient."

"Well, I have lots of time to practice that now," Eir said. "This is probably the end of Destiny's Edge, though."

Rytlock nodded. "With Zojja and Logan out of the field, and Snaff gone, and Caithe... Well..."

Eir looked up at him unhappily. "I'm sorry, Rytlock. We were the best team."

"Yeah, but there's no sense in looking back." Rytlock shrugged.

"Maybe it's time to start again," Eir said, looking between him and Annhilda.

Annhilda looked confused. "If Rytlock wants to join Hope's Legacy, he's more than welcome."

"I'm not joining a guild named Hope's Legacy," Rytlock growled. "Who named it, Caoilfhionn?"

"He was the strongest proponent of those particular words, but we all had a hand in it, the original five of us," Annhilda said. "We modeled it after Destiny's Edge, because why not?"

"Yeah, but Destiny's Edge is badass. Hope's Legacy is... foofy."

Annhilda put her hands on her hips. "Do you have any other objections than the name? We can change the name. I'll ask everyone. Except Caoilfhionn, since he's out of commission right now."

Eir laughed. "Rytlock won't admit it, but he's dying to join you. I've gathered he enjoyed fighting at your side through the Maguuma." Was that what he wanted to talk about?

"Oh, shut up," Rytlock said. "They've got good fighters, and you're a good guild leader, Annhilda. Probably better now that you're dropping the Pact Commander thing."

"Thanks," Annhilda said. "How about... Dragon's Watch?"

Rytlock snuffled. "Acceptable."

"I'll ask the others," Annhilda said. "Can't imagine most of them will object. You're right, Caoilfhionn might, but who knows when he'll be back? He's a loyal Wolf pup, though, he'll stick with us even if he doesn't like the name."

"Good," Eir said. "Your guild has done great things, Annhilda, and I know you'll go on to do many more."

Annhilda smiled at her. "Thank you, Eir. But I don't think you're really done yet, either. Once you find your bearings, you'll be a force to be reckoned with as you always have been – just in a different way."

"That's... kind of you to say," Eir said, looking away. Garm whined at her. "Can't say I can see it just yet, but Raven is with you, so I'll trust you... Like you used to trust me."

Annhilda shook her hand. "Raven himself would be proud to tell your legend. I'll visit as often as I can, if you would like."

"I... would like, yes. Spirits go with you, Annhilda."

Annhilda, Damara, Phiadi, and Rhyoll had convened with Rytlock to visit Taimi and Wegaff in Rata Novus; as Annhilda had thought, none of them was fussed about the name change, and everyone was excited about Rytlock joining, especially Rhyoll. Mostly. "He's gonna ride my tail about getting into the field more, isn't he?"

Damara was easy enough with the name change. She'd liked the old name, but she liked the new name, too, and it sort of reflected better what they did? And the guild had changed from when it was just the five of them starting out.

The lab in Rata Novus was bustling with Asura; they had to do a bit of a song and dance to evade Phlunt and his lackeys and go to the mysterious dragon lab that Phiadi had told them about, where Taimi could talk to them freely about Dragon magic and chak organs and other weird things. And fight off the chak when they found their way in and attacked, which left Damara worried for Taimi. Without Scruffy, Taimi was an easy target for the bugs, even with her new, grown-up armour. Sure, Wegaff had a bit of experience as an adventurer, and he could protect her with his elemental magic, and the lab had point defenses built in, but... the chak had gotten Asura before.

But Phiadi didn't seem worried about it, so Damara tried not to worry too much. It was just her nature to worry about small squishy things, and Asura collectively counted as those, even if they didn't like it.

They came out of the secret lab to find another Charr making a lot of noise. "I was told I'd find the Pact Commander here. Anyone? Were they wrong?"

Annhilda stepped forward. "General Soulkeeper, this is quite a surprise. What brings you to Rata Novus?"

The head of Damara's Order, Almorra Soulkeeper, came to shake her hand in greeting. "You do, Commander. I've come here to offer you a new position within the Pact. The Marshal rank is... uh... vacant. And we want you to fill it. At least until Trahearne has recovered, if he ever does."

Annhilda smiled wistfully. "This is an honour."

"I'm glad you view it in that light. The Pact is hanging on by a thread."

"I see..." Annhilda traded glances with Damara and Phiadi. Were the Order heads squabbling again? Couldn't agree on a new leader besides Annhilda? Surely Laranthir would have passed along their impasse from before, to Almorra at least – but maybe Almorra thought that some pressure from higher-up would help her to a decision.

"I can tell you're having your doubts, so let me just be up front about the role. Certain Pact elements feel like Marshal Trahearne's mistake was going out into the field personally and getting himself incapacitated. The new marshal would be planted safely in an office in Lion's Arch. Still leading the troops, but out of harm's way."

"Oh, wow, that kills any interest I had in the job," Phiadi said to the side. "They better get someone who isn't a monster on the battlefield then, or that'll be a waste..."

"Not to mention, how's communication going to work at that distance?" Wegaff whispered to her, and Phiadi nodded.

Annhilda was much more tactful. "As flattered as I am by your offer, I'm going to have to respectfully decline, General. After our battle with Mordremoth, I believe that our guild – renamed Dragon's Watch, with the addition of Rytlock – would be more effective operating independently."

General Almorra nodded gravely. "I understand your decision on your early retirement, although I'm disappointed. I still believe in the Pact's goal."

Annhilda nodded. "I do too, and I'll always be ready to lend a hand. It'll just be outside the system."

Rytlock laughed. "Out from under a mountain of paperwork, you mean!"

General Soulkeeper grunted. "Laugh it up, no-eyes. I have something for you, too. A letter from the Black Citadel. You must've really brushed some higher-ups the wrong way." She handed him a letter. Rytlock didn't even drop his blindfolded gaze to it as he crushed it and tossed it over his shoulder.

"Are you sure you want to just crumple that up and throw it away, sir?" Rhyoll asked.

Rytlock shrugged. "Why not? It's what I did with the last two."

"Wish I could do that," Rhyoll said. "I always seem to get interrupted just when I get to the fiddliest bits."

There was a clatter and shouting from below, and the Peacemaker guards began heading quickly in the direction of the ramps down. Damara listened, and caught something about 'crazy Sylvari'.

"Hey, we should go follow them, see what's going on," Phiadi said, and headed off down the ramp. Damara and the others followed her.

They arrived to see several Peacemakers pointing guns at Canach, who had his hands up and a more disgruntled expression than usual. "What happened?" Phiadi demanded.

"Hi, Canach!" Damara said, and waved.

Canach huffed. "I came in through the caves because I couldn't find the gate. I wasn't expecting such an... enthusiastic welcome."

"All right, stand down, everyone," Phiadi snapped, and the Peacemakers retreated.

"Did you see that?" Taimi said, and chortled. "Phlunt was so mad, even his fleas jumped ship. Canach, you're my hero!"

"So why the surprise visit?" Damara asked. Phiadi had told her that Agent Zildi had configured the point defense turrets to only register more-than-two-legged creatures – which meant chak – as hostile, which was great for Canach sneaking in without getting molested and all; she just hoped no one forgot and invited a centaur in someday.

"I'm here answering the call..." Canach wiggled his fingers at her.

Annhilda flinched, her hand going to her sword. "But Mordremoth's dead! You killed-"

Canach snorted. "Oh, it's not the Jungle Dragon's call. This time it's Anise's."

"Still holds your billet, huh?" Damara asked.

"She does. But certain messy events have transpired, and I'm assured that if I clean them up... my billet will be released, and I'll once again be free from any yoke."

"That's great!" Damara said. "How can we help?"

"Minister Caudecus recently, ahem, 'left' the queen's protective custody. Anise sent me and a squad of Shining Blade to help the good minister find his way back to Divinity's Reach."

"Any idea on his whereabouts?" Phiadi asked.

"There's been a flare-up of White Mantle activity in northern Maguuma, and intel points to him possibly heading there."

"That's the crazy magical hot spot we saw!" Taimi cried. "Up by the Bloodstone!"

Rytlock frowned under his blindfold. "I thought the minister claimed to not be in bed with those mursaat-lovers."

Canach sighed expressively. "Didn't we all?"

"We'll be happy to assist," Annhilda said, and turned to Rytlock. "Rytlock, you mind sending word to the others? Marjory, for one, might be getting a little restless in Divinity's Reach and want in on the action."

"All right. Gives me a chance to poke Logan, too."

General Soulkeeper cleared her throat. "Annhilda, if you like, you can hitch a ride on my airship. It's not far out of our way; we can drop you off."

Annhilda smiled. "Now that's an offer I can't turn down, General."

"Perfect," Canach said. "I'll grab my Shining Blade detachment and meet you there." He turned as if to go back through the cave.

Damara grabbed his arm. "Hold on, you don't have to go back out that way. It's much more comfortable to take the teleporter."

He followed her without resisting... much. "I'm not sure I completely agree, but if you insist..."

And then Bloodstone Fen exploded, and then... reverse-exploded, and wow it was dangerous out there, and there was an incredible amount of magic just floating around. Damara was pretty sure this was out of her league, but thankfully Taimi had stowed away some sort of communication device in Annhilda's pack and was constantly spying on them. Not that Damara minded when it meant she could let Taimi and Wegaff sort out the magic and the math way off in Rata Novus, safe and able to concentrate, and leave Damara to shoot things as necessary.

And the White Mantle was there, and not even bothering to hide. She'd picked up horrifying journal pages, mentioning human sacrifice, souls bound eternally to the Bloodstone, backstabbing and infighting... Why couldn't they just be normal? What was this all supposed to accomplish, really – what was so important about world domination? Why did cults have to be so incredibly creepy?

On the bright side, they made it to a temple complex that had been ripped from the ground and now floated aimlessly in the air, where Annhilda nodded to the spiky Sylvari leaning against the nearest wall. "Canach, glad to see you're alive. I was afraid you'd been caught in the blast."

He stood and came to greet them with a sardonic eyebrow. "We almost were, but then... not."

"Us, too. Your troops?"

"Some of them are still looking for you, and the rest are forming a perimeter around this place. I wanted to deal with the minister privately; I really only need you there to corroborate events, should they go south. Plus, I ran into these two delinquents and figured they may as well join in the fun."

Rhyoll gave the 'delinquents' a cheerful wave. "Marjory, Rytlock. Showed up just in time to help us track down Caudecus."

"It was all anyone could talk about in Divinity's Reach," Marjory said. "Canach, you're here under the orders of-?"

"Countess Anise is very concerned about Caudecus's well-being," Canach said, with the faintest smirk. "I'm to return him home unless the innocent-until-proven-guilty minister does something to change those plans."

Damara giggled. "She must be very hopeful your plans change."

The smirk grew fractionally. "I was instructed to be tight-lipped about it. But I will say this: Yes."

Phiadi held up a hand for attention. "Before we look for him: Caudecus may have been the someone who consumed the Bloodstone's magic. If it's true, he may be a little stronger than we all remember."

Marjory frowned. "If he did, we can't just let him loose on Kryta... or maybe all of Tyria is his prize this time."

Canach shrugged. "I only want to be off Anise's leash. Saving the world would just be a corollary benefit."

"We already saved the world like a month ago," Damara said. "By Melandru, it gets messed up fast. I wish people would stop messing with it."

"The Dragons are bad enough as it is," Phiadi agreed. "Delusional fanatics really just need to get slapped down as fast as possible or you end up with this nonsense time and again."

"Then why is the Inquest still around?" Canach asked, with another eyebrow.

"Because I'm not on the Arcane Council... yet," Phiadi said, with a toss of her head. "And given what I just said, you probably shouldn't trust me with a private army. Even though I wouldn't use it for personal gain... much."

"My confidence is overflowing," Canach said, deadpan.

"Then you're one of the smart ones," Phiadi said in kind.

Up the hill they went, following the winding stair as it looped slowly towards the summit, dodging traps and White Mantle who didn't seem terribly perturbed that their base was now floating. Soon they came to a large double door, closed, maybe locked, there were no handles though.

Canach turned to them. "Let me take the lead, Rytlock. I was given specific orders on how this was supposed to be executed, and I don't need you to defile it with your inclination to blindly smite."

Rytlock growled. "If that's a blindfold crack..."

Canach ignored him and gestured to Annhilda. "Care to take the door, Comman- Annhilda?"

"Absolutely," Annhilda said. "And yeah, no more Commander for me." She took a couple steps and put her boot squarely in the middle of the double door; both halves flung open simultaneously. It hadn't been locked.

Canach ran in. "Minister Caudecus, you've obviously... Oh. He's not here. Rytlock, smite away!"

Rytlock chuckled and brandished his blazing sword at the shocked and angry Mantle cultists. "My pleasure!"

Damara was already loosing arrows at the magic casters in the back, her raven Orion swooping forward to stab their eyes with his big beak. "Go for the eyes, dear," he said, quite clearly, and prompting startled looks from several people on both sides of the fight. Maybe she'd said that too many times in training, and he was stuck with saying it now whenever there was something to peck at. Oops!

The battle was fierce, but short. The White Mantle were determined to protect their master with their lives, but despite their strange bloodstone powers, they were not... that great at fighting? Their group was probably just really strong from having fought an Elder Dragon and surviving the jungle. And they also weren't high on bloodstone, so they still had all their mental faculties.

"Why do you think Caudecus wanted them to collect bloodstones?" she asked, looking around at the carnage and shattered crystals when they'd struck down the last cultist.

"Hopefully to weigh his pockets down while he jumped in a lake," Rytlock said.

Damara laughed. "I wish! I knew he didn't like Queen Jennah but I didn't think he was actually Evil with a capital E."

"Most politicians are Evil with a capital E," Rhyoll said. "How do you think they get to be politicians?"

Canach snorted. "You, I like you. Well, hopefully he hasn't flown the coop." They'd walked a little further up the hill, and were now at another set of ostentatious doors.

"Oh yeah, he's in there," Damara said; she didn't even have to listen closely to hear Caudecus yelling impatiently at his underlings from behind the doors. "Dwayna preserve us, he sounds like a delight to work for."

"Everyone ready to crash his party?" Canach asked. "Time for your foot key, Commander."

Annhilda grinned and did the foot in the door again, and it slammed open with just as much a satisfying bang as before.

Canach stormed in, sword and shield at the ready. "Minister Caudecus! You've obviously been taken prisoner by these White Mantle zealots. I'm here to rescue you and return you to the Royal Palace."

Caudecus was standing at the top of a majestic platform overlooking the circular courtyard, wearing White Mantle grand leader robes, scowling at the intruders. At his side was a young noblewoman whose face Damara vaguely recognized, and all about them, on the wall and in the courtyard, were heavily-armed White Mantle zealots. "Let's drop the charade, shall we, you ignorant leaf! I will not be returning to Divinity's Reach until I wear the crown!"

Damara was really impressed with Canach's self-control. He was coolly poised, not the slightest hint of a smirk on his face, though somehow he was still radiating smugness more than ever. "So I'm clear, you're admitting you're associated with the White Mantle?"

Caudecus flushed a darker shade of beetroot and he gesticulated wildly. "Are you quite touched? I'm their supreme leader! And they will carry me all the way to the throne of Kryta!"

Now he started to smirk, just barely. "Members of Dragon's Watch, did you witness that?"

Annhilda let out a tight grin of her own. "I did."

Canach pointed his sword in an exaggeratedly formal manner at Caudecus. "Then by the providence granted to me by Countess Anise, I hereby pass sentence on you, Caudecus Beetlestone. Today is your last day on Tyria. Allow my blade to bid you farewell!"

Caudecus yelled at his minions, and one of the big violet jade constructs rose before them, raising its arms to bash Canach, who sidestepped with a bored look before flicking his whipsword across it. "I believe it's safe to assume Caudecus didn't absorb the bloodstone's magic; otherwise he'd be down here himself," he said.

"I'm trying to figure out who did," Phiadi said, directing her largest flesh golem to grapple one of the construct's arms.

Damara had been looking up and around – there were White Mantle all along the walls, armed with bows and staves, but they had not begun to shoot down into the ring yet. Waiting to see how good their crystal golem thing was first, she guessed. Well, it was... slow, and it might have been powerful, with its big punishing stone arms and its beams of magical energy, but it was... slow.

Until those annoying red beams arced out of the crystals around the arena, zapping each of them. Damara winced as it struck her in the chest, sapping the life force out of her... and then she flexed her innate magic with a grunt, breaking off the beam and shattering the crystal. Her arrows appeared to be just skipping off the surface of the dark purple jade, and it was starting to get frustrating, even if it was also chipping away at the spell that powered it. She really didn't like being in the middle of things with her sword, like the others; she lost track of things on the periphery that way, and there were enough of her friends in melee anyway. So she and Orion hung back, dodging magic, watching the White Mantle to see if they would attack, and let Rhyoll blast away with his shotgun and Rytlock hack with his magic sword. Maybe she should get a magic sword. What had Eir done with Magdaer again?

Rhyoll guffawed as he blew the head off the construct, ancient magic crumbling against raw explosive power. But suddenly Damara gasped as she felt magic seize them all and freeze them in place; whether from the dying construct or from the mesmers around them, she couldn't tell. Caudecus was ranting already. "You cannot stop me! The Krytan throne was built upon White Mantle blood, and we are its rightful heirs!" The doors opened again, and more White Mantle rushed in to surround them, ready to execute them. Oh, that wasn't fair! Her poor raven was fluttering slightly on the ground beside her and she couldn't even pick him up. She glared at Caudecus, up on his wall, sticking out her tongue at him.

Suddenly, an inhumanly tall figure rose from behind Caudecus upon trails of green and red magic; he had a halo of shadowy tentacles on his back. "You are a heretic, Caudecus! And you shall lead no White Mantle, for I am their god!" He raised his arms heavenward, and Damara made a horrified face, because that could only mean...

Caudecus gasped as he whirled to see who was interrupting him now. "What? It... It can't be...!"

"I am the last Mursaat," said the figure regally. "Many years ago, you knew me as Lazarus the Dire. I have returned from the brink of existence!"

Caudecus made a slashing gesture with his hand. "No! You are a false god! The White Mantle is mine! Don't listen to him!" The White Mantle soldiers looked back and forth between them, some of them dithering, some of them quickly choosing sides, one way or another.

"Empty words formed by the forked tongue of a snake. The Human seat of power and its current monarch are inconsequential. We are destined to face more virtuous pursuits. My true believers, you're welcome to seek shelter in my light. To those who doubt... you're welcome to burn." Fire rained down from above, indiscriminately targeting everyone in the arena. Damara gasped and tried to dodge, though she didn't know where to dodge to. At least the White Mantle seemed to be getting the worst of it, but what if-

"Canach!" Marjory cried, casting a set of bone stairs from the ground towards Caudecus's platform. "Go now!"

Canach leaped up the stairs, really dramatically, but all his charisma didn't do anything, because the mesmer standing next to Caudecus waved her staff, and both of them disappeared in a blink. "No! ...Bah! Mesmers!" Canach sheathed his sword and waited for the others to join him on the now-empty platform – Lazarus had also disappeared; the fire storm had stopped, and the other White Mantle were dead or fled. "Sorry, Marjory, no offense to Kas."

Marjory nodded good-naturedly. "Helpful if they're on your side, annoying if they're not. I understand."

"But now he's gone," Canach grumped, and put his hands on his hips, glaring at Caudecus's last spot.

"We can help catch him," Damara offered. Her raven landed on her shoulder and offered her kisses with a hearty 'mwah!'. "Not now, Orion. Love you too."

"Doesn't look like there's any sign of Lazarus, either," Marjory said. "A Mursaat alive... We should immediately warn the queen, but he appeared to be disinterested in Kryta."

"Surprisingly different from the last time the Mursaat were sticking their creepy bird feet where they didn't belong," Rytlock rumbled.

Annhilda tilted her head at Marjory with a half-smile. "Marjory, weren't you just saying something about people not being able to change?"

Marjory met the look with a level stare of her own. "A 'virtuous pursuit' could mean a lot of things to a Mursaat. But I'll admit, I'm curious."

"Yeah, they might think it's noble to make a necklace out of your teeth," Rytlock put in.

"I think we're all missing the point here, and it's this," Phiadi said. "With Caudecus not displaying any signs of excess power, I think we have to assume Lazarus was the one behind the blast. We need to find him and get an idea of what he's planning to do with all that magic."

"Caudecus will want to hunt him down too," Canach said, his stern look relaxing into a calculating smirk. "He won't readily surrender control of the White Mantle. One will inevitably lead us to the other."

Annhilda nodded. "This'll be a good way to start the new guild: a crisis, but hopefully not a world-ending crisis."

"It's how I prefer my crises," Canach said dryly.

"Hey boss, can you read me?" Taimi's voice broke in from Annhilda's pack. "I have some news!"

"I'm here, Taimi," Annhilda said. "What do you have?"

"Something possibly... slightly... marginally... cataclysmic," Taimi said.

"Dammit!" Phiadi said to Annhilda. "You invoked Murphi!"

Taimi gulped. "I managed to finally get detailed ley readings from the map, and determined... well... Primordus is active."

Phiadi swore with more descriptive words, but quieter.

"Um, I can still hear you," Taimi said. "Also, I agree."

Phiadi sniffed, instantly on her dignity again. "You heard nothing. But I'm coming down to the lab to get the numbers. Are we done here? I'm done here." Without waiting for an answer, she teleported away.

"I understand your priority will be the Dragon," Canach said, and grimaced. "Mine, however, is unfortunately spoken for."

"Best of luck," Damara said. Ooh, she really wanted to help track down Caudecus! But this was exactly what Dragon's Watch was for, watching Dragons, so she had to go do that.

"Thank you, and to you," Canach said gravely. "Farewell." He teleported.