After interrogating the cultist, the Ashen Company decide he is of no threat and that his intentions of fleeing and not reporting back to Calitrax are true so, after taking his robes (and giving him some travellers clothes), set him free.
Berrick sends a message to Nico for Silas to check in on him but gets a disturbing reply of "oh no, not the voices again - leave me alone!" Berrick lets Silas know Nico is alive but doesn't say much more for now.
Needing to get to Latharial as soon as possible Berrick attempts to teleport the group - instead our heroes hear "so, you have returned and wandered in to my domain. See if you can survive this" before a storm of ice and necromancy hits in to them.
No need to have worried about what the cultist may or may not have done Calitrax knows the Ashen Company is back. They all hot-foot it from the immediate area, it's about 8 hours on foot to Beinya so at the half way mark they rest, cast some non-detection spells/potions/infusions and continue on to the farm.
The Ashen Company follow Latherial's orders, they put all their belongings in to a secret chest and give it to Reno for safe keeping. They dress in burlap sacks that have been laid out for them and head in to the stables, each stable has been fitted to be a cell and the Ashen company are each bound, gagged and blindfolded. Null refuses to part with Latharial's Grace, not wanting to risk any harm coming to the weapon but also determined to return the family heirloom to it's rightful owner if their relationship isn't going to survive this.
As the Ashen Company are lead down some stairs the sword is removed from Null (with threats to take good care of it) as the heroes are led to a throne room. Seated is a battered, weary, scarred and slightly older Latharial. Null explains the crazy tale (tl:dr version) of where they have been to Lady L who in turn asks them to prove they are who they say they are.
Lotty reasons that she needs to show the same faith in them like they did in her when they relinquished their defences and submitted to restraint; regardless of how much she may not like them right now they are allies.
Cade suggests using magic to verify their identify and reminds Latherial of times shared in the past, she doesn't trust magic any more but the memories ring true.
Flynn summons Oryn and says that Lady L can trust the bear's judgement even if she can't trust her own.
Silas sympathises with Latharial and tells her that she would have made Hector proud, he's sorry she's had to go it alone but we're back now and ready to be her right hand again.
Null stands and asks Latharial why she kept the sending stone all this time if she truly thought they were never coming back and and didn't have any faith they would be reunited. Null laments that she could remind her lover of the night she confessed she was a changeling, or the moment she trust Lady L with her vulnerabilities and showed her the tattoo. Null could tell Latharial about each and every constellation she has drawn in the freckles on her back or why she really hates chair but beyond all that Latharial needs to trust what is in her heart.
Latharial knows this to be the real Ashen Company and orders their release. As tension settles they sit down to a meal, re-gather their items and swap stories of what has happened.
The information gained from the cultist regarding the of the separation of lands is confirmed. Updates on friends and family tell that the McFini's are safe but not in the same location; Ezra is alive but not in a good place physically or mentally - he took the aftermath very personally. Nicolai is an angry teen leading a group of other young folk on reckless side-quests.
Gleaning and divine magic doesn't work any more, neither does a lot of demi-plan style stuff, attempts to teleport also draw Calitrax's attention. There is some protection from the wyrm-trio in the resistance hide-outs but everyone is plagued by nightmares when they rest.
The Ashen Company confirm they've had contact with the other conclave groups and know they're alive (Flynn gives Latharial one of the conclave communication devices, the ones on Ios all ran out of juice a while ago) and will no doubt be taking care of the other two wyrms.
Lady Latharial has an outline of a plan, a small resistance hides underground in small cells but they need to cut the head off the snake and take the fight to Calitrax. They haven't got enough heavy hitters, maybe with the return of the Ashen Company they can start to turn the tide.