The False Star
The woman in black reached me, dropped to one knee, and bowed with deep respect.
This was my bonded familiar—the ancient black dragon, Snowshade.
Through the years of my seclusion, the Ashveil Order's name beyond these walls had grown fouler and fouler.
I'd sensed long ago that something was wrong, so I'd had Snowshade take human form and look into it for me in secret.
"Rise," I said evenly.
"Show these three elders—so very far above worldly matters—what you turned up."
Snowshade stood and drew a thick bundle of record-crystals from her enchanted ring.