“They haven’t all perished, have they?” James asked.

“No.” Jacopo came to his senses and sighed lightly, “It’s just that among the old friends you mentioned, two have fallen as lackeys under Tai Chi.”

“Who?” James feigned surprise.

“Gladwin Warrick and Yaquis Holiness,” Xainte huffed. “Without them, Uncle Truett wouldn’t still be missing to this day, and our Solstice Alliance wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

‘Truett’s disappearance was related to Gladwin and Yaquis Holiness?’ James’ mind s