Conclusion, Celebration, Epilogue

It took time to clear the rubble and bury the humans of the Blue Guard who died when the balcony collapsed. Not surprisingly, none of the gnome guards (except those who had been struck down by the sword) were anywhere to be found in the palace. Gandr explained that they had probably escaped into the ground, leaving the human traitors to face their punishment.

They searched long and hard for Cafer, but he was among the missing when it was all said and done. Without that final sense of closure, they moved on and turned to a time of celebration.

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The whole city of Valiant was decorated with blue and white, and the palace was no exception. The banquet hall was filled with a feast that could rival any in the world. Aurora and Devrim sat at the head of a long u-shaped table. While a more stately meal  with Valiant's nobility had occurred the day before, this celebration was far more intimate.

The eleven councilmen,