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Muxijiko half-walked, half floated over to the Exarch, who looked at the undead mage respectfully, but with a hint of trepidation. “Now, Grand Exarch, as you’ve rightfully pointed out, you are needed here, at the Fane, but we asked that you bring some of your great army of retainers. As you remember, we asked for some particular skill sets. Why don’t you tell us who you’ve brought?”

Minna looked at Maddy, as if to say “We’re going to be working with THEM?” but a quick elbow jab from Miryala kept them in line.

“I am sorry, Councilors, that I cannot undertake this quest in person,” she lied. Everyone in the room knew that was a lie. “But I’m sending along my best. Choru, the healer and Cleric. She’s trained in the fane since she was a child. She’s skilled in healing, divine magic, and the use of arms. Choru bowed. She looked so much like the Exarch. Miryala remembered hearing rumors when the Exarch had disappeared a few decades ago for nearly a year. Rumors were that, shortly after she returned, the Fane had taken in a foundling, who she made her personal responsibility, training her as a Cleric for the temple.

The Exarch continued, “Therliss here is a ranger. A skilled hunter and tracker, and every bit as skilled with the sword as some of my bodyguards. She’ll help the group through the wilds.”

Maddy’s eyes again widened like saucers at that word “wilds.” Was this quest going to send them into the perilous zones outside of the Wardshells? Miryala was thankful for her armor, lest her elbows would be bearing serious bruises from keeping her colleagues’ reactions from harming their professionalism. Maddy wasn’t so happy at the steel plate that jabbed her in the ribs again. However gentle it was, her robes hadn’t prevented her from developing a bruise there.

“And last,” said the Grand Exarch, “I send Velathra, my favored assassin. There is no vault she cannot enter, no stronghold she cannot infiltrate…um, except, of course the council chambers which she thanks your permission to attend…her daggers move like lightning, and she is familiar with all manner of potions and poisons.”

“Healing and lore, wilderness survival, and infiltration. It is as we asked,” said Caelana, stepping forward. “We thank you for allowing your hirelings to join this quest, Grand Exarch, and, with our thanks, you can return to your duties, as you wish.”

The heavily-robed woman looked at the councilors as if she expected something more, some immediate, tangible reward. They stared back in silence. After a few uncomfortable moments, she let some of the justicars escort her back to the teleportation platform. Miri breathed a small sigh of relief on seeing her leave.