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Eric returned to his home, feeling unsettled. He felt like a detective in one of those ancient “who done it” books: the more leads he found, the fewer answers he had. Even thanks to Toa’s many leads, when dealing with such things as the White Hand, questions were always present. Surely the coming of the White Hand was a good ways off – but was someone out there plotting evil things even now?

Eric shook off the uneasy feeling as best he could and went from his home (with Malachi’s aid) to the Great Hall of the Rangers in the Heart of the Sphere. Master Xu was now the Admiral of the Rangers, and as such worked primarily from an office in that Hall.

Malachi had often described to Eric how well designed and how well laid out that Hall and all the halls of the Heart of the Sphere were. For Eric’s part, he could tell much about the layout by the echoes and the silences he encountered as he walked among the buildings and the courtyards, the fountains and the gardens. The scents and the birdsongs that changed from season to season fascinated and delighted him too.

“Eric, it is good to see you again.” Xu said as he got up from behind his desk and bowed to Eric; Eric returned the salutation. (Easterners never shook hands.) Xu’s office was simple and had family photos rather than certificates plastered on the walls. The window was open, allowing a fresh breeze to float in and cool the room. It appeared that both Toa and Xu preferred natural tools to the technology afforded in these times.

“Master, I still have many questions.”

“Your visit with Grand Master Toa did not go well?”

“It went very well indeed, but it left me searching still.”