When Sephardi took a break, most of the people in the Chambers decided to get a drink or socialize. Juan went down to the bar and obtained an old favorite. Elder Miguel burst into the room, stunning the patrons.
As the deafening silence enveloped the Chambers, Juan's Tequila milkshake slurped rudely.
"Rumors of Maniaco's death have been greatly exaggerated. Though at first it was only a small cabal. Trust me Miguel when I say I was only informed of this several days ago. I remember being on the Altaneria at the time of the evacuation. The realization that Maniaco was on that ship as it's reactor went critical. I had to see him in flesh and blood to believe it myself, though he was unconscious when I saw him."
Juan set aside the empty glass and thought for a second.
"Though if what you say it true, this probably means Maniaco is feeling better. Montoya's message didn't say anything about why he was so sick, just that he was already close to death and getting worse."
Saying all he could, the Elder sat back with a raised eyebrow.
"The thirteen saloons that had lined the one street of Seney had not left a trace. The foundations of the Mansion House hotel stuck up above the ground. The stone was chipped and split by the fire. It was all that was left of the town of Seney. Even the surface had been burned off the ground.
Nick looked at the burned-over stretch of hillside, where he had expected to find the scattered houses of the town and then walked down the railroad track to the bridge over the river. The river was there."
