After assuring Penny/Thanlindra that we would devote ourselves to getting her out of this prison, we departed. She was thankful, but tears flooded her eyes as we left the cell. I stood before the door and wished I could do something to get her out, but even the king's hands were tied.

Being friends with the Alister had its benefits. He got us out of the prison without having to board the train we had arrived on. We were escorted out by a half dozen stout dwarves dressed in plate armor and carrying huge weapons. King Alister told me to keep my head down and to follow closely. Seraphina walked close to me, her arm hooked in the crook of mine. Luckily, the dwarves, being dwarves, only came up to about chest level and didn't spend a lot of time looking at my rapidly deforming face.

They took us to another train car in a different part of the prison. As the six-inch thick door shut behind us and we settled into a very posh train car, the magic dampening effect began to lessen. My hands shrank and grew less pale. I touched my face and found my cheeks filling in again.

"Phew." I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Tell me, Varix. Were you ever going to inform me that the former dark lord was no more? I have spent a considerable amount of time searching for him or his corpse. And it was right in front of me all along."

"I prefer to think of it as a walking meat bag," I said. "And I apologize. I truly feared losing my head if the secret ever came out. I have lived in dread since I arrived in his throne room."

Standing in the corner of the train car, Kara crossed her arms as she regarded me, her face a silent mask.

"Tell me all," the king said.

I laid out my tale for Alister for the next few minutes. I told him about my arrival, the harrowing escape with Lady Churl, and the trek to Everspring with Doan, Caden, and Mira. He laughed as I went over the day I had met the orcs and had convinced them to buy my stew.

The train trundled on, and I couldn't help but feel more relieved by the second. King Alister not only knew my secret but also found it quite amusing. I continued giving him the shortened version of the events that had happened to me since I’d arrived in Mythralon. When I got to the part about the hidden underground city, it really got his attention.

"You mentioned the pre-cataclysm city," the king said, leaning forward in his seat. "And they had advanced technology?"

I nodded. "It was incredible. The city was powered by something they called the Earthheart. And the ferrokin, Triolux, he said they had been in a state of hibernation for thousands of years. One of the craziest things was this fabrication machine. It spit out a saddle for the dragon in a matter of minutes."

The king stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Fascinating. I've heard whispers of such places, but never anything concrete. This is a significant discovery, Varix."

Our conversation was interrupted as the train pulled into a station. We had reached the end of the line. King Alister stood, and Seraphina and I followed suit. Kara brought up the rear as we disembarked and stepped out into a large underground tunnel. A few dwarven warriors stood at attention.

Several humans dressed in finery emerged from doorways and approached the king with a barrage of questions and concerns. Alister waved them off with a casual gesture, indicating that Seraphina and I should follow him. As we made our way through the passageways, the king's retinue trailed behind, all of them competing for his attention.

Alister leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "I find it best to stay a little aloof. Keeps them on their toes."

Seraphina chuckled, and I couldn't help but grin.

We reached another set of doors intricately carved with thick dwarven runes. A pair of stout dwarf guards pushed them open, revealing a breathtaking royal chamber. The walls were lined with tapestries that depicted battles and beautiful landscapes, and the floor was inlaid with polished stone in geometric patterns. Plush couches upholstered in rich red and blue velvet were arranged around a central hearth, where a fire crackled away.

As we settled into the comfortable seating, the door on the room's far end swung open. In strolled Elixander, along with Frostfire and Triolux. The dragon's silver-streaked hair cascaded down her back, and she wore a plain brown shirt with simple tan trousers and a pair of leather sandals. You'd never know from looking at her that she was a dragon in disguise.

"Ah, I see we have quite the gathering," King Alister said, rising to greet the newcomers. "Elixander, thank you for joining us. And who are your friends?" The king's eyes were glued to Triolux and his peculiar skin and eyes.

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Elixander inclined his head. "Of course, Your Majesty. Thank you for sending for us."

Frostfire smiled warmly. "A pleasure to meet you, King Alister." The dragon performed a slight curtsy that turned into a graceful bow.

The king peppered his guests with questions, and they were more than happy to answer them. Someone brought in drinks and little sandwiches of freshly roasted beef with tomatoes and a creamy sauce that was very much like spicy mustard. I grinned at the king after my second bite. He smiled and nodded as if to say, "Yep. I brought roast beef sandwiches to the kingdom." I needed to investigate Mythralon's version of mustard and stock it at the tavern as soon as possible.

Another server brought in a tray covered in bottles with glasses perched on one side. He placed this on the table in front of us and departed.

The drinks were wine, stout beers, and fruit juice, along with a small pitcher of water. Soon we all had glasses in hand and were all seated around the fire. Despite the regal room I felt like I was in a much smaller, cozy room with my friends for company. Despite that, and the fact that we had not been gone for an entire day, I was already missing my tavern.

Alister spoke at length with Triolux, asking him about his lost city, his race, and a few gently worded questions around the ferrokin's intentions when they had awakened. Did they wish to return to the world above? Were they looking for any treaties?

Triolux shook his head and assured the king that the awakening of his city would take a great deal of time. He also explained that he had built a portal that would allow people to enter the underground city to explore and meet other ferrokin as they awoke. He explained that he would very much like to discuss a treaty, if that's what the king required.

"But you see, King Alister, the ferrokin will take no side in a war nor will we participate or help either side in the event of a war. The ferrokin long ago swore an oath of peace. We have seen the world burn. We wish to have no part in any other hostilities. Ever."

The king nodded at the words, his eyes thoughtful. "I understand. The timing of your discovery could not have come at a better time. We are entering a time of peace after a decades long war."

"Yes. Varix filled me in on some of the details. I wish your kingdom the best of luck, however, we will stand aside and watch. My kind are happy to share our knowledge, just as I'm sure you will, but that is the extent of our good will. Nothing more."

The king's face bore a guarded expression. I couldn't imagine what he was thinking.

King Alister gently shook his head and gave us a reassuring smile. "I forgot to mention this. You can speak freely here," he said. "This room is completely secure. No one can overhear us, and no sound escapes these walls. We could host a festival in here, and the world outside wouldn't know."

Kara stood close to the king, her hand never far from the hilt of her short sword. Her watchful gaze swept the room, ever vigilant. I didn't blame her. Here we were, a trio of transmigrated, a dragon in disguise, and a ferrokin, a race that they knew almost nothing about. I noticed Kara's eyes roving over Triolux, probably wondering if his skin was impenetrable. I had often wondered the same, and hadn't thought to ask.

Elixander regarded the king thoughtfully. "So, Your Majesty is aware of Varix's true identity."

"I am," the king replied. "And I trust him."

Elixander reached into his robe and pulled out a slim, leather-bound book. He handed it to Seraphina. "Then I would like to share this with you all. I found this in the great library of Crownforge," he said. "It may hold a clue on how to allow Varix to appear as himself without relying on the Heart of Shadows."

Seraphina's face lit up as she took the book. "Thank you, Father." She thumbed through the delicate pages, but then her face fell.

"It is not in a language I recognize. Nor do I know who might recognize it. Perhaps our friend here," Elixander nodded toward Triolux, "may be able to shed some light."

Triolux took the slim book and opened the front. He scanned the page, turned to another page, and studied it as well. The ferrokin ran his fingers over the pages, closed it, inspected the binding, then opened to the rear and sniffed the inner binding.

"Hungry?" I prompted Triolux.

"Nay, friend Varix. I was merely seeking to ascertain its age, or perhaps discover a cypher hidden in its depth. The book can be made readable, but I will need a little time."

"Really?" I asked.

"Indeed. The language is like an echo of my own. Given time I shall be able to read it. I believe Elixander's keen eye has indeed found a book related to the gem. The sketches inside are similar, but it's the text that will hold the key."

"Wonderful. Then we can seek a cure for Varix," Seraphina said.

I looked down, my thoughts heavy. "I appreciate it," I said quietly, "but that's not my priority right now."

Seraphina glanced up. "What do you mean?"

"We need to find a way to duplicate the amulet's power," I explained. "Penny—Thalindra—is trapped in that dungeon. She didn't ask to be here any more than I did. It's not fair for her to be locked away while the real Thalindra is out there, unpunished, possibly free to cause more destruction."

Elixander considered my words. "It's a noble goal," he admitted. "But we don't know how the original stone was created. We might not be able to recreate it."

"I've studied the gem extensively," Seraphina interjected. "Perhaps with our combined knowledge and magic, along with an understanding of the book, we can replicate it. Then we could figure out how to make its effect permanent for both of them." She hesitated before continuing. "But there's a risk. Attempting this could drain the amulet's power completely."

I took a deep breath, weighing the consequences. "I understand the danger," I said. "But I can't leave Penny to rot in that cell. It's worth the risk."