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But you suffer no attacks on your return journey, and one clear sunny afternoon the river widens and the village of Chief Kothis is still there. Your boats glide toward the shore, side by side. The raids of these "ophidians" haven't reached as far as Kothis's village, at least. You even see signs of renewed trade from downriver—a little round boat is on the shore and two men in unfamiliar garb are haggling with a local net-maker.

Even as you contemplate how well the River People have adapted to their new, settled existence, Stralchus says, "If the ophidians are coming, this place doesn't have a chance."

Ignoring Stralchus, Control says, "Good, they have transported the Specular." She points to a sort of pavilion recently constructed at the edge of the village. Within, you see the silver gleam of the broken vessel's components. You also spot Losh, Vecla's assistant, who organized the move. The scarred herbalist looks exhausted, but now everything for the repair is in one place.

As your boats dock, Chief Kothis appears from amid a knot of hunters and waves to you, his golden pectoral gleaming in the afternoon sun. He reaches you after a short run, then looks from one of you to the next, his expression darkening until he is sure Keimia isn't there.

People fleeing ophidian attacks along the river have already brought word that the Apostolic Mound is dead, but the villagers don't know exactly what happened. Control, Stralchus, Therko, the warriors…no one says anything.