Maxine learned that James was still alive. To verify the truth, she headed to Mount Bane overnight.

In the silence of the night, there was a bonfire at the foot of Mount Bane.

James was discussing matters with Xandra when a group of people appeared in the distance. In the lead was a man wearing a white robe, his skin fair and delicate. He was holding a white pearl the size of a fist in his hand. The pearl glimmered a faint light, and there was a black dot darting about inside the pearl.

Ho