Meanwhile

"Do you think she'll notice?" Crimson asks as she looks into the pool of water at the center of her reading chamber.

"What, that we sent Roan and Eira to keep an eye on her, or that the damned wolf is there as well?" I ask as she looks up tourmaline eyes swirling with possibility, she blinks and there back to normal.

"I don't see why you don't like him," she smiles, "he reminds me of you when we first met. Lovely and arrogant." Her smile turns feral as she walks towards me claws pulling me down so we're at eye level, "I'm sure if my father had met you, he too would have hated you."

"Who exactly is your father?"

"A time Lord."

"So, a Pirate."

"I suppose you could call him that, he travels through time and worlds stealing whatever meets his fancy."

"Wait he still lives?"

"Obviously," Crimson moves to whisper in my ear, "I told you he's a Time Lord."

###

Ryan passes back and forth as I toss yet another report to the side. They're all the same, the war in the Dragon Realm continues to affect trade between Antares and the Koi lands. A guard runs in falling to his knees as he presents Ryan with a red scroll. He looks it over dismissing the guard with a wave of his hand.

"It seems the Isle of Nothing is stirring," Ryan says handing me the scroll.

"Who would be stupid enough to go there?" I say just as the barrier that's contained the Witch Island is broken.