"Rosemary Dahl, they will see you now." The mental voice belonged to one of Selendis's templar who had accompanied her in the ship. Rosemary turned and nodded. She took a deep breath and forced composure on herself as she had so many times in the past.

"Let's do this thing."

The templar turned to the Furinax. "Vartanil, you also are requested to appear."

"I?" Vartanil's hands fluttered in agitation. "But...I am no one important! Why do they want to see me?"

"Because you know firsthand what Ulrezaj did to those who followed him. And because you have chosen to support Rosemary. Your experience is important in their decision."

Vartanil turned lambent eyes to Rosemary. For her mind alone, he sent, "It is my greatest hope that nothing I bring to this meeting jeopardizes your chances of recovering Professor Ramsey."

"I know," Rosemary said. She couldn't hide her own worry, and unfortunately that did nothing but add to Vartanil's agitation. "But hey, you could be a great help too. Let's just go find out, okay?"

Vartanil nodded. The templar beckoned, and Rosemary and the former Tal'darim followed him.

They strode down a long corridor that was wide and yet somehow confining. Little decor was on the walls here; this was a purely functional route, merely an entrance to the chambers. Wide but oddly cramped feeling, the design of the corridor was a security measure, she realized. Petitioners or perhaps even honored guests would be monitored every step of the way.

When they emerged, Rosemary blinked at the sight that met her eyes.

She had seen displays of wealth and power before, and she was not one to be easily intimidated by such things. Ethan's compound had dripped wealth on lavish display, and Valerian's private study, while more tasteful and understated, was filled with items that were actually even more valuable than anything Ethan possessed.

But this...

The door, deceptively modest and undecorated on this side, opened onto something straight out of a dream. The dark templar obviously fostered craftsmen every bit as talented as the khalai. She couldn't take a guess at how old this building was, nor how long it had taken to erect, but it was magnificent. Where the corridor had felt narrow, this room was cavernous. Soft black carpeting rendered her footfalls silent as she moved forward, not breaking stride despite the shock of the place's grandeur.

The enormous room, large enough to be a building on its own, was circular. Above arched a dome made of faceted crystals. Unlike most of the crystals Rosemary had seen so far, these were not opaque and radiant but translucent, to let in as much natural light as possible. More illumination was provided by the more familiar crystals, scattered throughout the hall on intricately crafted metal stands. Alcoves ran the entirety of the circular hall, and in each one sat a protoss on a huge chair, surrounded by several attendants. Rosemary's eyes darted around, finally coming to rest on a figure at the far end on a dais. Standing beside him was Selendis, who turned to Rosemary. Though she appeared tiny because the place was so damn big, Rosemary recognized her immediately; her armor was distinctive, and she was the only female present in any position of authority.

Selendis's thoughts brushed hers. "They will not read your thoughts until you are formally introduced. Do not be afraid, Rosemary Dahl. All here are aware of the situation, and many are already sympathetic toward your goal."

"And some aren't."

"Yes. But you knew that. The truth is your ally in this case. Present it calmly, and I have high hopes they will listen to you."

Present it calmly. That was the trick, wasn't it?

Selendis stepped lithely down from her position and strode to the center of the chamber. Her thoughts rang out as loudly and clearly as if she had shouted them.

"Templar, judicators, khalai, dark templar—thank you for assembling here today to acknowledge the petitioner. She has traveled far and endured much, and stands before you to respectfully ask you to pay heed to her requests. She is terran, and female, but beside her stands a protoss who has willingly chosen to stay with her, based entirely upon what he has endured. What they know, you will soon know. I believe their request to be a true and honorable one."

Rosemary felt a tickle in her mind and turned toward the one who was sending it.

"Come forward, human. And you, Vartanil." The mental voice was almost kind, and Rosemary obliged, striding forward and looking up at the speaker. Vartanil followed.

The protoss's seat was at once more beautiful and more humble than the others in this vast hall. Simply crafted, it did not drip with gems or crystals, nor were there elaborate swirls in its design. And yet it was exquisite, clean, its plain lines eloquent and harmonious. On each side stood a protoss standard-bearer, and swathes of purple covered the walls of the alcove. For such a formal place, this protoss was simply, almost staidly clad in a few pieces of armor and something that looked like an apron. Like the throne, if one could use such a word to describe something so plain, it was very well crafted and well worn. The glowing eyes squinted and the protoss hunched his shoulders, using his body language to smile reassuringly at her.

"I am Tabrenus of the Furinax lineage. I see one of my own stands with you. That speaks well of you."

Rosemary felt Vartanil's pride and humility at the words. Not sure what to do, she bowed respectfully. That seemed appropriate, for Tabrenus nodded and settled back.

"Cross the hall to Urun of the Auriga," came Selendis's thoughts in her mind. "Their ancestral tribal color is orange. Continue to alternate until you reach Artanis at the end. Remember.. .from this moment, all your thoughts are clear to us."

The advice was welcome, and Rosemary shot back a quick thanks. She backed away a bit from Tabrenus, then turned and approached the leader of the Auriga.

His armor reminded her of Selendis's, but it was more elaborate. Rosemary wondered at that—she'd thought Selendis the highest ranking military officer. Perhaps it was simple personal choice. An elaborate headpiece and large shoulders should have looked oversized and ridiculous, but this protoss had the physical frame and the presence to support it.

"You came from Aiur," Urun stated bluntly. Rosemary nodded, unsure if she should speak.

"Only if asked a direct question," Selendis whispered in her mind. Again, Rosemary was grateful.

"Our people fought well." He nodded, satisfied. "I am not surprised. But you do not come here proposing to return and take back our world from the zerg...or Ulrezaj."

The amount of loathing with which Urun infused the dark archon's name was almost painful. Slowly, Rosemary shook her head. "No. That's not my idea to suggest. I'm here to ask you to help Jake and Zamara."

Urun's discontent washed over her. This was an impatient one, eager to fight back and reclaim the honor of the protoss people. Only if she could persuade him that that cause would eventually be served by recovering Zamara would she sway him.

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and the gesture annoyed Rosemary. Urun's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Watch your thoughts," Selendis reminded her.

"It's damn hard to do when you're not a telepath," Rosemary shot back, but instead focused on what she'd come here to do. Following Selendis's instructions, she crossed the hall again, to stand in front of Nahaan of the Ara. If Urun was ceremonial, almost ostentatious, this protoss tribal leader—it was the best word she could think of; she knew that the protoss had long ago adopted caste intead of tribal distinctions, but clearly the bloodlines and heritages were remembered and valued—was almost monkish. Although the color that adorned his alcove was red, his clothing was dark, almost somber, and a hood hid his eyes until he moved it back with a deliberate gesture to regard Rosemary thoughtfully.