The clinking of dishes and the faint murmur of conversation surrounded the large table we had gathered around. The majority of the group from the Beyond was present, all wearing contemplative expressions. Despite the lively chatter from the nearby reconstruction efforts, the weight of our current task was enough to keep our circle quiet, each of us lost in thought.
The Fire Lord and Master Rain had left earlier. Master Rain, curious as ever, had gone to study the formation the Confederation used to seal Solarous. Inscription and formations were his domain, and it was no surprise he couldn't resist. The Fire Lord, on the other hand, left for a simpler reason—he couldn't stand being in the same room as Meng Hao for too long. Those two seemed destined to lock horns no matter what the situation.
For the rest of us, though, the topic at hand was impossible to avoid. The looming battle with the Broodmother wasn't something we could take lightly.