As the people of Evenord waited to welcome the expedition, across the city another gathering was occurring, though much smaller and secretive.
Within the large estate of the city's most influential family, around a large table sat a group of men, most dressed in expensive clothes while others wore armor and arcane robes. They varied from the young-looking to the old, but all were there for the same purpose.
"Is there any news of attack?" An older-looking man with reddish-brown hair asked. "I heard you sent out men to search, Lex, arcanists from your own personal guard, what of that as well?"
The man known as Lex sighed, his face a mask hiding the mix of anger, and weariness that threatened to boil over. His face, now wrinkled, and his aching body had reached its limit, and the past years had not been kind to him, and now another problem had presented itself at the worst possible time.
