The lich sighed as he found his slave swept away.<br/><br/>"What do you think of me now my dear grand-daughter?" he asked the emptiness.  His robes returned to cover him as he settled into a comfortable seat and stroked his chin.  His lusts satisfied, it was time to consider more fully all that he knew about the other players in their game.<br/><br/>The personages Aurora had spoken of appeared before him, like pawns in a chess game, with the current king himself facing balthazar from the other side.<br/><br/>"What to do now indeed..."