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The green Icon seems to understand what's happening, but it's already too late. Silver bands wrap around it, draining it of power, feeding that power to you–and up into the sky. The False Icon does not annihilate its rival–perhaps such creatures cannot be destroyed–but the draining is extensive and brutal, leaving the Icon yellow-gray like dead grass and so broken that you doubt it will be able to speak out about what you did to it.

Even as you wonder what price the False Icon will eventually extract for these services, you feel the power and wisdom of the green Icon flowing into your body and mind, connecting you more deeply with the rhythms of this savage world.

The Icon's shapes flicker and dim.

As the False Icon vanishes from your mind, it tells you to free what's left of the green Icon. It has plans for that ragged and diminished creature. And it reminds you to act normally otherwise; no one else must know of your secret concord.

Then Alexius turns and jumps, reaching for weapons that aren't there. "Crowchar!" he whispers.

"There you are, Riverlander!" It's Skull Ripper, his voice a thunderous boom that rouses the villagers. A dozen Forest Tribe warriors flank him. Two hold a dazed-looking controller.

The Triune spill out of their hut, adjusting their masks like Byzantine merchants straightening their cravats.

"I've caught them," Skull Ripper says. "They would steal the Golden Eye of our god if they cannot trick us into giving it away! They are nothing but thieves, and there is only one thing we do with thieves!"

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