After spending two days at GoldHammer Keep, the company begins their ten-day journey back to Glenzor. The first night on the road, Dwarves are the topic of conversation around the cookfire. The company shares a laugh as Mikhael praises Ash's character, but admits his initial suspicion that Ash might have been a traitor.

"Typical," says Nik and Callous, in unison, and the company laughs some more.

"Hey," says Simon, coming to Mik's aid, "you have to be suspicious of everyone."

"Including you?" asks Cassia.

"I've told you my position. I'm loyal to the company."

"He's right, you know," says Danny, and there is a moment of silence while everyone turns.

"About suspicion, that is," Danny qualifies. "It seems that treachery is destined to win out over suspicion."

"To destiny," says Simon, raising his wine glass. As usual, the rest of the company looks at Simon, says nothing, and then looks back at Danny.

"You see," continues Danny, "suspicion is born in culture, planted infrequently, flowers quickly and blooms only for a very short while, while treachery is born in mankind, flowers slowly and blooms for a very long while.

"I allowed myself to be betrayed by a Dwarf once. During my first meeting with him, he allowed my godmother to die. Did you know she was the one who taught me magic? Anyway, the Dwarf's name was Oborax GreatMaul, or at least that's the name I knew him by. As I said, suspicion only blooms for a very short while, and over time I forgave him for his crime. In fact, we became good friends. That is, until he betrayed us to the Hill Trolls. Oh, flowering treachery, be you the dark beauty of man's soul."

"Beauty?" says Mik.

"Who was 'us'?" says Callous.

"It doesn't matter," says Danny, "the lesson was learned ... Oh was it learned. Much too well, I'm afraid." Danny gets up from around the cookfire, his eyes revealing a dark and morose mood that had not been there minutes ago.

"Oborax GreatMaul," says Danny, as he leaves the group. "An anti-ranger, I think. Moved to Parthinon, as far as I know. If you ever find him, kill him for me.

"I'll see you bright and early, soldiers." With that, Danny turns around and retires for the evening.

Shortly after, Mikhael follows with a somewhat worried look.