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“A charr crusader,” said Riona, her voice low but her face flushed. “And she knew the risks.”

“Beside the point,” said Dougal.

Riona was angry now. “You remember the other night, when Crusader Doomforge said she would do anything to make sure the mission succeeded—even if it meant the death of one of us?” Dougal nodded, and she continued hotly, “I feel the same way. If we were going to fight and die there at the gate, the mission would have failed. You know that. Ember knew that. She would have sacrificed herself if she had to: that’s how the Vigil operates.”

“We were lucky,” said Dougal.

“You are lucky,” said Riona, calming herself. “That’s why you’ve survived long enough to come along. And are you really one to lecture me about sacrificing allies?”

Dougal opened his mouth but nothing came out. Riona nodded in triumph. “Now, if you don’t mind, I could use some time away from all of you.” And with that, she retreated to the far side of the room and wrapped herself up in her cloak, watching Ember and the others. Gullik was already snoring loudly.

Dougal let out a long breath and looked at the brooding Riona at one side of the room and the three nonhumans on the other side. He walked up to the low asura-height table and tested it. It seemed strong enough to support a full-grown norn. Dougal lay down on the tabletop, wrapped himself in his cloak, and was asleep in moments.

His sleep must have been dreamless, because the next thing he realized, he was being shaken by the shoulders by a small child.

“Wake up, you bookah!” snapped Kranxx, rolling off him as Dougal sat up, blinking back his slumber and wondering if he was ever again going to sleep through an entire night.

As Kranxx’s angry face came into focus, he managed a mumbled “What now?”

“Where is she?” said Kranxx, and looked over at the others. Killeen was pulling herself to her feet, and Ember was shaking the norn from his deep slumbers.

“She?” was all Dougal could manage.

“The girl, Riona!” said Kranxx. “While you’ve been sleeping, she’s wandered off!”

We should leave her behind,” said Ember. In his heart, Dougal knew the charr was right.

However, what he said was: “How long do we have to find her?”

“An hour, at the outside,” Kranxx answered, irritated. “One thing I did while I was out was to prepare a small incendiary in my old workshop. The smoke should alert the guards, but by the time they put the fire out, I was planning to be long gone.”

“One thing?” said Ember.

“I also thumped on the ostler’s door and demanded he have a large wagon with supplies ready to go for me by noon,” Kranxx replied sharply. “I have no intention to pick up that wagon, but it will delay them further. And I also left a note for my assistant that stated I was leaving for Elona and putting the Ebonhawke gate and all attendant responsibilities for dealing with the authorities in his care.” He paused a moment, then added, “I don’t like my assistant that much.”

“Okay,” said Dougal. “Let’s figure a half hour at best.” He looked at the others. “Killeen, any idea where she went?”

“I was asleep,” said the sylvari. “And if you’re asking about the Dream, it doesn’t work that way.”

“Fine. You come with me anyway,” said Dougal. “Ember, brief Kranxx on the whys and wherefores of what we’re doing. Gullik should understand what we’re facing as well. We should be back within a half hour.”

“And if you are not?” asked Ember.

“We go with your plan,” said Dougal. “You leave without us. We’ll catch up if we can. Killeen, with me.”

Dougal stepped out of the building above the warehouse and cursed inwardly. The sky was already starting to lighten in the east, and the city was coming awake. Already the heavy shutters against the night air were swinging open, and a honey wagon drawn by a heavy dolyak was rattling along the street. No Vanguard in sight, but that was only a matter of minutes. Far in the distance he could hear bugles sounding reveille.

“Right. We split up,” he said. “You go into the city,