Jaheira stood over a map of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, searching for some weakness in Moonrise Towers and the inexplicably immortal Ketheric Thorm. Last Light Inn was her final refuge, and she had no intention of allowing an Absolutist spy through its gates.

A Harper entered with news of armed strangers waiting outside. Jaheira abandoned the map and followed at once.

The newcomers had barely stepped beneath Isobel’s protective light when Jaheira raised one hand. Thick roots erupted from the earth, winding tightly around their leader’s boots and pinning them in place.

“Hello.”

She produced a glass jar containing a living mind flayer tadpole. As she brought it closer, the creature writhed and something inside the captive stranger answered. Jaheira’s expression hardened. The reaction proved they were infected, and therefore capable of passing among the Absolute’s followers as True Souls. Whether they served the cult remained to be seen, but until they proved otherwise, Jaheira treated them as enemies until she had a reason to trust them.