David S> Agreed; this is also the reason why I believe Khaavren is David S> the current Warlord. MTBRoney!> Given that he's supposed to be the head of the Special MTBRoney!> Tasks Group (at the time _Orca_ was written), that seems MTBRoney!> unlikely. [nit]No one *was* warlord at the time _Orca_ was *written*, though perhaps someone *is* at the time _Orca_ is set.[/nit] :) KG> So who is Warlord then? We know from _Yendi_ it isn't KG> Morrolan, Aliera, Setra Lavode or Sethra the Younger. In KG> _Teckla_ Vlad recognises him by the fact he is an old Tiassa KG> leading Guardsmen. In _Phoenix_ Vlad isn't surprised to hear KG> that the Warlord resigned (temporarily replaced by a Sethra). KG> In _Orca_, we're told he would have to have been ordered by KG> the Empress, and if so he'd just resign again. Note the KG> reference to resignations and the implication that he takes KG> his orders directly from the Empress. I agree that sure sounds like Papa-cat himself. Mayhap we'll hear a bit more in the Vicount trilogy? On the other hand, I haven't seen any explicit indication of where they will land in the timeline. Casey