Deep down in the valley of Pike, where the river Tymac met the Barren, stood an old building. This monument to stone was the oldest structure in Pike and served as the hallowed ground where all the nobles met in the fashion of their ancestors. It sat in the park district, not too far from the western main gate into the city proper. There, seventeen old human men sat and discussed how they would rule this city.
Percy said, "We are losing money hand over fist to prove a point. I don't know about all of you, but I want the hell out of here, goddammit!" Percy had always been a practical man, and his pockets told him that hurting this guild would only hurt his long-term prospects. The fact that the guild was ninety-nine percent nonhuman made no difference. These people paid taxes—not just on time, but ahead of time. More than anything, he wanted to return to political relevance, and that couldn't be done from Pike.
