Vattus was not well at all. He had managed to put on a brave face immediately after the events at Seth-e-Raman, but as soon as everyone had left for their various quests, he collapsed.

King Sigus had the magus taken to his room and saw to it that his needs were tended each hour of the day. He lay weakly in his bed, pale and sweating, barely able to move without a great deal of pain. His appetite had disappeared and it was only at the stern insistence of the king that he ate at all. It was early afternoon when the king entered his quarters.

Vattus managed a weak smile.
"Come to bully me some more?" the wizard said, smiling weakly.

The king hid his concern over Vattus' appearance with a forced smile.
"On the contrary, magus. I'm here to tell you that you have a guest."

Vattus became agitated.
"No visitors! I can't be seen like this. There is too much at stake for other's to spend their time worrying about me!"

King Sigus let out an honest chuckle.
"Well then, you'd better tell him, Pellus won't take no for an answer."

Vattus brightened.
"Pellus! Why didn't you say so, send him in."

"I'm already in," a voice from the door called out. Sigus motioned the old wizard over.

"I'll leave you two alone" the king said as he left. Pellus sat at Vattus' bedside.

"You look like death warmed over, my friend," Pellus said with concern.

Vattus forced a smile.
"Good to see you, too. I thought you never left Aolas, what brings you here, Pellus?"

"Oh, the sea air...fresh fish...the usual," he put on a stern face, "I'm here to bring you back to Aolas, of course. King Sigus was concerned for you and sent a messenger. He assumed correctly that we have more access to expert healers in Aolas."

Vattus held up his hand.
"I can't leave..." he protested.

"Of course you can, there is no more for you to do here, don't be stubborn."

Vattus grabbed Pellus' hand and squeezed it tightly.
"No, you don't understand, if I leave, I will surely die."

Pellus became alarmed.
"Explain yourself, Vattus, what do you mean?"

Vattus used a store of his energy to sit up. Pellus helped him take a sip of water. He began to speak.
"I cast a high spell to stop the Deev ship from stealing the Rubitar..."

"A high spell? By yourself? I didn't even know that was possible...it was foolish."

"I had little choice. I linked with the Rubitar. In the middle of the spell, the Rubitar was cast into the sea..."

Pellus shook his head.
"And you were unable to break the link?"

"Yes," Vattus answered weakly, "I am still bound to the stone. It is at the bottom of the sea and I can barely sense it. If I leave now, the bond will be snapped and it will be the end of me."

Pellus became very concerned.
"But if you don't properly break the bond, your energy will slowly be drained until your life-force is completely depleted. You will continue to get weaker each day the bond remains unresolved. We must do something!"

"Old friend, I appreciate your concern and I have no desire to leave this plane quite yet, but the Rubitar is sunken well beneath the surface of the Straits and not easily recoverable. There are more important events afoot. Events concerning the survival of this world, there is no time to dedicate energy toward my dilemma. I still have time, not terribly much, but some."

"What can be done? Can it be salvaged from its resting place?" the old wizard asked hopefully.

Vattus smiled.
"I have been reading the journal of the latest Gadral Neure..."

"The master of the Guild of Assassins. Whatever for?"

"He is a friend of mine," Vattus answered.

"You are friends with an assassin?"

"Yes and no, it is a long story. In any case, his name is Herman and of everyone here, he is the only one who knows my true condition. I have sworn him to secrecy. He has a plan to retrieve the Rubitar that I think might work, however he is presently engaged in a task far more important than my well-being. When that has been accomplished he will return to help. Hopefully I will still be alive."

"Yes, that would make saving you a great deal easier," Pellus smiled.

Vattus squeezed Pellus' hand tighter.
"You must promise to tell no one."

"No need to break my old bones, you have my word, on one condition."

"What?"

"That I stay with you till this is resolved. I was quite an accomplished healer in my youth and I will work to keep you with us as long as possible. I have lost too many friends recently and I do not intend to lose you."

Vattus smiled.
"Thank you my friend, I welcome your company and help," the magus' eyes began closing, "now I think I'll rest a bit." He was asleep from exhaustion almost as soon as he finished the sentence.

Pellus patted his sleeping friend on the chest.
"Rest well, old friend. I will keep you with us as best I can."

Robbi had taken particular care in instructing Gladiverserac on where to land in Thoth. It was decided that a water landing would be best and that necessitated using the Circe Sea. Since the roiling body of water contained not only whirlpools and ten foot waves, but also areas where the water reached temperatures near boiling, the specific area where they would land was critical.

Another factor which Robbi took into account, but tried not to think about was the very creature which was now the focus of their efforts, the Asherouboros. The last time Robbi and the beast had crossed paths, it had been determined to consume her and she feared, that given the opportunity it would try to do so again. Taking all these facts into account, she had decided on a landing zone away from the bridge, on the northern side of Thoth, further from the city, but meeting all the requirements to keep them safe.

The landing was flawless and the two companions scrambled on shore quickly near the rear gate of the Black City. As they approached the massive entrance to the interior of the walled capitol, they were delighted and surprised to find Chumley and Herman waiting for them. Their approach had been witnessed by lookouts and Chumley had correctly determined where the wizard would land.

Hugs and greetings were exchanged. The small crew made their way back to Castle Thoth, where food and drink was waiting. Chumley insisted that the rat and albatross rest after their flight and Robbi agreed, but not before handing Herman the patch of Arisha's webbing for his glass. He took it gratefully and headed back out of the city to where his glass furnace was being built.

When she awoke, Robbi headed to Dema's quarters. Dema had played a special part in the rat's education as a wizard. Though not a sorceress herself, the old toad was a scholar of magic. She had studied the white and black arts for almost the entirety of her lengthy life. It was she who prepared Robbi for her life and death encounter with Khalis, and without her aid, Robbi had no doubt that she would not have survived.

Aside from their study of magic, there were also close personal ties and since the Khalisian wars the two beasts remained very close, corresponding with regularity and visiting each other a few times each year. It had been a few seasons since they had seen each other and when Dema answered the door, Robbi hugged her tightly.

Dema smiled warmly.
"It has been too long, child. Come, I've brewed some tea. I want you to tell me exactly what's going on."

"I'll try," Robbi said following the toad to a small table set with cookies, tea, and slices of lemon, " but I'm not sure I know everything that's happening."

Dema seated herself and poured two cups of the high mountain tea. She took a sip and looked at Robbi warmly.
"I have missed your company, Robbi...so has Belinda, she speaks of you often."

Robbi looked up from her tea.
"How is Belinda? I'm surprised she's not with you."

"She's feeling a bit queasy. I recommended she rest. We'll visit her later."

Robbi looked concerned.
"It's nothing serious, I hope."

Dema chuckled.
"It's serious all right, but not dangerous. She's better than fine...a little moody, hungry all the time...nauseous quite a bit...but healthy as a horse."

A broad smile crossed Robbi's lips.
"She isn't....is she expecting? The rat asked anxiously.

Dema laughed and clapped her paws together.
"You've been here a few hours and haven't even seen her, yet you know the situation immediately. Chumley's been with her for weeks, as has Thoris, yet they don't have a clue! How this world has survived with men in power is one of the great mysteries of life."

Robbi became serious.
"Belinda hasn't told Chumley?"

"She was going to...in Minga, but when Chumley told us of the grave events transpiring, Belinda thought it best to wait. She didn't want to add any additional concerns which might divide his attention. She felt that it might alter his thinking, endanger him somehow." She made a dismissive gesture, "I don't agree, I thought she should tell him, but she is adamant and I suppose I'll respect her wishes."

Robbi laughed.
"You suppose?"

Dema grunted.
"Haven't you heard, I'm a contrary beast...unpredictable."

Robbi grasped Dema's paw firmly.
"My favorite contrary beast. What wonderful news...imagine...Chumley a father!"

Dema laughed.
"The mind boggles," she took a sip of tea, "don't tell him I said so, but I think he'll be a great father."

"I think so too, Dema, he has an enormous heart and a generous spirit."

Dema nodded, then rapped the table.
"Enough of this sentiment...tell me what's happening on our world."

Robbi did and the pleasant mood became very somber.

While Dema and Robbi had tea, Chumley and Thoris were feeding the Asherouboros. The last of the sacks of fish parts was being consumed by the frightening creature and Chumley sat on the wall of the bridge looking down at the beast as it circled far below.

Thoris stood next to his friend and looked down.
"How are you going to get your pal down there into the tank that Herman ith making. I'm not sure athking politely will work?" the weasel asked.

"Yeah, that's the question, ain't it? And if we do, 'ow do we lift it out of the lake, it's gonna be right 'eavy, it is. And if that ain't enough of a bother, 'ow do we get it to World's End?"

Chumley tossed some loose fish parts which had fallen from the sack down into the water.

Thoris smiled.
"I think I know the anther to the latht part. Frega's due in Thoth with a hundred of hith warhorth. We can build a very large cart with lotht of wheelth. Ath for getting the tank down to and up from the lake...well thath eathily tholved...the bridge ith throng and we can thet up pulleyth, blockth and tackleth and the like. Like I thaid, ath I thee it, the biggetht problem remainth how do we get Ashy into the tank."

Chumley shrugged.
"Ah suppose we could ask real nice. Ah think you're spot on with your other ideas, ah do. Ah'll see to getting' a big ole cart built and settin' up a rig of pulleys and such. It'll take some time for Hermie to finish 'is tank, so we got some time. Sadly, we need to get our brains workin', don't we?" He looked down at the Asherouboros which still circled lazily.

Chumley turned to Thoris, " 'E's lookin' a bit different, ain't 'e? Those beardy things on 'is face 'ave gotten longer, ain't they?"

Thoris nodded.
"I noticed them too, they look a bit like thothe thingth a roothter hath."

Chumley chuckled.
"Yeah, Ashy the rooster..." he stared down hard, " 'E's lookin' a bit pale too, lost a bit of 'is color, 'e has. Ah 'ope 'e ain't sick. From what ah've 'eard about this Ürgod chappy, 'e's gonna be real impressive, quite a bit bigger than our pal down there. Ashy's gonna need to be in tip-top shape, ain't 'e?"

"He doeth'nt theem thick," Thoris laughed loudly, "but don't expect me to go down there to take hith temperature."