Hi, my name is Andrew, I'm a long time listener/first time caller. :) I have a question about the Cycle, in 500 Years, we have this: "You," said Tazendra, startled "are now the very Emperor that your spell is attempting to win control away from in order to give it to you." and "I believe" said Andron, attempting to laugh "that I shall be remembered as having the shortest reign of any Emperor in History" However, in Taltos, Aliera says "It is the reign of a re-born Phoenix, isn't it?" and "A Great Cycle -seventeen cycles; it had to be a reborn Phoenix" So if the cycle didn't turn to Dragon, but to a reborn Phoenix, why did the Andron become the Emperor? My own thought is that he didn't, and that the spell went wrong because there was no Emperor for the spell to work against, the connection being already severed between the Orb and Tortaalik. I'd be interested in other's thoughts on this.