The group fell silent again until an older man spoke from behind them. He had a gray beard and the calm tone of someone who had seen many battles.
His robes were worn and patched, but a faint silver glint along his forearm showed that the retired man had once been an Argent Artist.
"Although it isn't confirmed," the old man said slowly, "they say there's a man named Aksai Everwood standing behind her. He's the same man the Grand Martial Hall hunted years ago—the one with the biggest bounty in recorded history."
The others turned to the retired Argent Artist, eyes wide.
"You mean that Aksai Everwood? The one who destroyed the Devil's Den in Serenity Peak all by himself before disappearing?" someone whispered.
The old man nodded. "That's the one. The Hall spent decades trying to track him down, and now he's shown himself again. If he's really the one helping Lady Zinnia, then the Grand Martial Hall's in for more than they expected."
