Destination

"Ah, the fruits of your minor expedition down south, I presume?" said Ven'thur, smiling. "I did try to have a few familiars keep tabs on you when you went silent for some hours, but there was a foul smog blocking the sky that killed my magic. For that, I must apologize."

Li nodded. He had informed the guild council he was going down south to deal with issues, but he had not been too specific, mostly to keep word from getting to Tia and making her worry. Though, now, in light of all the events that had transpired, that precaution had ended up being pointless.

"That delay was unseemly of me. No need for you to apologize," said Li.

"Though," said Ven'thur. "Never once did I doubt your triumph over any forces you are pitted against. And I suppose, considering you are a master of your crafts, it would have done well for an artist and intellectual such as yourself to have had some privacy."