Ban sat in the dark listening to the drips of water and then felt a drop on him. He sighed and scooted over. He put his head back. He could not sleep. He was restless and held a deep regret. He had turned his country into a nightmare and lost any power he had. He took the trinket he had stolen out of his pocket. Anto had decided that the old woman's things were inconsequential. He was curious about the flat thing that glowed in the dark. He touched things on the surface and noises played, and others dinged at him. Things were in a language he didn't read. It was new to Kalestra. He was annoyed it wasn't in the common tongue of Dragon.

Something came open and he pressed on the small images. They filled up the space of the whole device and when he touched it again they moved. He found he could view the images in succession. Then one began moving like he was watching the people through a small window. People were in a place with food and beverages. They were happy and waving or laughing. Then the thing beeped at him again and went dark. He could not make it light up again. He sighed mournfully.

He was forgotten. No food or Water, not even a guard. Just a collar that prevented his using magic and a couple of pots. One pot he had under a drip to collect what water leaked into his cell. The other would soon be too full to do anything with. No one would even know to rescue him. He had no honor guard with elite training like his Aunt did. Just as well, they didn't seem to be able to protect her from the necromancers. He surprisingly did not mourn her loss like he thought he might. Even though she had adopted and raised him as her heir after his parents had died.

No, what he mourned now was what he lost after the coup. He trusted the wrong people. He wanted power so badly he made a mistake. And now he wasn't worth torture or food. He was forgotten. He let that sink in. He didn't feel like crying. He wasn't even that angry. He just laughed. He heard it echo, and reverberate through the little dungeon.

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He stood up and took off his outer cloak. He rolled it into a makeshift pillow. Nothing for it now but to sleep.

****************

The wind blew through the camp colder as the days wore on and the refugees kept streaming in. All of the leaders and immortals argued what was to be done before winter. Take back Feren, Sir Xander had said to many cheers. The Queen supported this idea. She also wanted to set up a permanent colony in the mountain. The land beyond should be hers after her throne was restored. Leaders of many other countries argued against that passionately.

Elda hovered on the other side of the tent. She knew if she walked in they would mob her in their quest to find her favor. They were all now arguing loudly with each other. Elda took a deep breath and was about to enter when a slender hand caught her shoulder. She looked up. Delphina looked down at her with a steady but not unfriendly gaze.

"Let them sort it out. We have a much more important thing to do." She said and smiled.

Delphina tore open a portal to the In-between and took Elda's hand. Brecka sang a sweet hello to Elda. Elda followed them through and let the rift swallow them up.