Io's Labyrinth

[Anastasia]

"Be a dragon," Io says again, and in what you swear is an amused voice, "I believe you know how. Do draconic things."

[Corwin]

"I'll do my best," Seira promises. "And I just want to ask what now? Are we able to come here again once we leave? Not just to bring those who would touch the divine seed, but to converse with you if we need to? And the Arbiter or his herald, would you know of any means of contacting them? I had a few possibilities in mind, but none seemed safe enough to try before."

[Anastasia]

"You and those of the five nodes may come here whenever you wish," Io says, "You will not need to travel the maze again. I do not, they will contact us as needed."

[Corwin]

"Who are the other two... leaders, I suppose, of these nodes?" Seira inquires, since she might as well confirm her knowledge. "And is Oberuth covered by a sixth node of sorts, under Sylian's auspices?"

[Anastasia]

"You know the one I chose and empowered directly. The other is the irrigo of Aurora, Tryll." Is Io's reply.

[Ebiris]

"I think Ebony recently worked with him when I sent her to handle something in Princess Dana's homeland," Alicia speaks up. "Though the experience left her rather rattled. Can I ask why each of us were chosen?"

Her and Seira obviously have their earlier charge from the Arbiter, but what motivated selection for the rest?

[Nephrite]

What!?

"Him!?" Moore blurts out. "...Because of the power of Three." He says almost immediately afterwards. "Of course."

[Corwin]

"Who?" Seira shakes her head, deciding that Alicia's question is better. "And to build up on that, may we confirm who exactly chose each of us? And why Oberuth is not called the sixth despite being in this fully with us?"

[Anastasia]

"Alyssa and Tryll both have the right potential and meaning," Io says at last. "Moore is correct about Tryll as well. Our weapons are chosen carefully - for all that a grieving widow and an isolated half elf seemed like unlikely champions, they have become magnificent."

[Corwin]

"Chosen by whom?" Seira repeats, since she might as well know.

[Anastasia]

"The three of us. Zaphkiel, myself and the Arbiter's servant," Io explains.

[Corwin]

"To confirm, the three of you picked all five of us? Or were Alicia and I picked by the Arbiter, Alyssa by yourself and Moore by Zaphkiel? Something else? I'm just curious at who to thank for the nice stuff that sometimes appears out of thin air, and whether it's the same source for us all."

[Anastasia]

"I had no doing in your selection of Alicia's," Io says, "I believe that to the Arbiter or perhaps Zaphkiel as well. Zaphkiel is the source of the powers of your nodes."

[Corwin]

Seira nods her understanding. It would be interesting to hear about the others, but this is good enough. She just waits for Io to address the issue of Oberuth and Sylian before she is satisfied.

[Anastasia]

"I would like to know as well," Oberuth says, "About my role in this."

"You are not part of a node. You are a contribution from another," The dragon deity explains, "You simply are."