“We went in with bad intelligence,” Resplendent Jaguar replies simply. “An ancient magitech research facility under Arborea, and no one thought to tell us about it? That means either no one knew it existed – which implies that someone deliberately concealed it astrologically – or else we were set up to fail.” The young Chosen of Battles heaves a sigh. “I don’t like either possibility.” Without hesitation, he presses on, “In either case, I can see only two outcomes with significant odds of having some impact on Fate: the near-total destruction of the Dragon-Blooded garrison, or the death of Golden Hawk Feather.”

“Dead?” is all Shining Noon Truth manages to say, clearly shocked by the revelation.

The Sidereal nods. “Crushed by some falling debris. If there was no design in it, it was a pointlessly random death.”

The elder Solar easily grasps the implication. “Are you saying that you believe someone manipulated Fate to have Golden Hawk Feather murdered?”

Resplendent Jaguar shrugs. “It’s not for me to say. All I’m saying is that, if someone did go that route, there were certainly more elegant solutions to the problem. It was a quick death, though – I’ll give it that. He didn’t suffer. There, one second; and, the next?” He snaps his fingers. “Gone. We couldn’t even recover his panoply. You’ll need to send some work crews in there to dig out his remains. And they’d better be equipped to cut through all kinds of strange substances. That place was rotten with someone’s weird science experiments.”

Shining Noon Truth frowns. “I see.” He looks to the others. “And the rest of you?”

“I don’t know about any of that, but that place was definitely Shining Adamant’s work,” Ziharo observes. “Or, at least, it was partly his work. I recognized some of his signature flourishes, though his weren’t the only hands that built that facility.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t begin to tell you who else was involved, however, or even how many others.”

Shining Noon Truth nods. “And… if I recall correctly, I heard something about you being out there to research your previous incarnation’s studies, yes?”

“I was,” the young Dawn Caste replies. “I followed half-ruined old maps to the general vicinity of Arborea, and then I just took the roads to the nearest town. I figured that the locals might’ve had some kind of… folklore or something? Stories, anyway. Something that could’ve pointed at what Shining Adamant was up to, out there.” He runs a hand back through his hair, brushing a few stray locks out of his face. “I got there shortly before the Terrestrials were all turned into elementals by that weird relic.”

The elder Solar takes on an especially thoughtful expression. “What were you hoping to find there?”

Ziharo answers matter-of-factly. “Anything. Everything, really. Relic weapons and armor. Treatises and other old knowledge. Whatever I could find that might make me better at what I do, and help me to surpass the man I used to be. I have a duty to the Unconquered Sun, after all.”

This seems to meet with Shining Noon Truth’s approval.

Onyx Wayfarer coughs subtly and Shining Noon Truth’s eyes turn to him.

“There is the matter of the recovered disk, the one that caused the pylon with a rift in creation allowing Wyld energy in.” The solar nods, bidding the lunar occultist to continue. “There was a great deal of loss in the terrestrial exalted in the garrison. Those who survived will never be the same; most of those who escaped the experience with their lives lost their minds.” Onyx Wayfarer catches sight of Temek Foe Breaker out of the corner of his eye and adds gently, “Some may be helped, but ‘fixed’ is not the same as ‘unbroken’.”

Shining Noon Truth nods again. If he has any tear for the garrison, he will shed them another time. “And the disk?”

Onyx Wayfarer answers. “The disk is presently in Shadow Harmony Paradox’s hands. She will see it properly handled for the Deliberative.”

Shining Noon Truth steeples his fingers in front of him. “I am sure that Whispered Threat would have preferred to see it within the Manse of Secrets, but that will do. I’m sure that your mate will parlay it into her Academy.” He says this good-naturedly; it’s merely fact.

Temek rises to his full height, looming over Shining Truth. The desire to grab the little man’s head and crush it in his metal hand is nearly too much to be resisted and the conflict plays across his face. “One of our brothers is dead because of your little game, whatever it was. We have learned nothing and sacrificed greatly for it. I have no desire to play your games and should have heeded my intuition and refused when you called. I am not at your service nor your beck-and-call and you will never again involve me in whatever it is you imagine you’re doing. Steer well clear of me, Shining Noon Truth. Now I go to mourn a friend and leave you to scheme in the dark like a spider.”