"She nearly won for you, Master," the woman replied in a very respectful manner. "If not for the Were-cat, she would have broken them."

Always the Were-cat, the voice spat. He is a thorn in my side. A thorn it now falls upon you to remove for me, Lyselle.

"As you command, my Master," the woman said with a bow of her head. "I have a plan."

Explain.

"Yes, my Master. The Were-cat is sui'kun. I researched them, and you must agree that we have nothing that can fight one such as that directly.

I will grant that.

"Thank you, my Master. But despite his power, he does have weaknesses.

You believe to be able to exploit them?

"Yes, my Master. They didn't find all our spies when they found out Amelyn. I have eyes in the Tower, and they tell me much."

She looked up at the statue. "Master, the Were-cat may have the power, but he will not use it against us if it threatens his own."

His ties do run deeply, but his family is as fearsome as he. Do you believe you can get to them where others have failed? The ones sent to eliminate Jula failed miserably.

"I believe we can this time, Master. If things go as I plan, the Were-cat will recover the Firestaff, and then he will hand it over to us, and do it willingly."

Her dark eyes glittered momentarily. "One like that, he would pay anything to get back his children."

Indeed. You may proceed with your plan, Lyselle. Do not fail me.

"I will not, my Master," the woman said, bowing her head once again, and then leaving the statue, going down one of the sets of steps. Leaving the statue to its own, so it could ponder, plan, plot, and dream of a bright future.

A future of dominance.