His wife lay bloodied, and a son in Shalonesti hands. Lyan silently thanked the rage surging through him because it was the only thing keeping his hand from trembling in fear as he levelled his sword at Speaker Rhiadora and her guardians.

The following exchange was both dream and blur. Angry demands and accusations were all he could muster as he tried to keep his eyes on all the sword toting Sha'falas present. Frazen screamed for Lyan to thank Rhiadora for her kindness in letting his wife and son live, but all he could think was how she should not be in this state in the first place.

Suddenly, Baruch, Dininn and Meladori were at the cell door. Their presence allowed him to take the breath he only now realized he had been holding this whole time. Lyan thought a ghost of a frown seemed to pass on Rhiadora's face for but a heartbeat as she realized this would now be a Kingdom matter.

"Lyan may take the child and go, unless he wishes to take Ursah's place," Rhiadora finally conceded.

Ursah cried in protest as he quietly agreed to take her place, even going so far as to muster up a portal and attempt to push him through in her weakened state. But Lyan hardly heard a word from his wife, or the discussion between Meladori and Rhiadora on the conditions of his detainment. His mind raced with thoughts of his wife, his son, the House and the extrodinary souls of Verminasia who now came to his family's aid. Most importantly, his eyes searched in vain for some flaw in the prison that would eventually yield escape.