I think most of us are beyond predictions at this point since they're sure to be wrong in one way or another. :-) Steve has a way of getting to his point via the road less traveled. If you've not read it yet, "A Dream of Passion" is a short story by Steve (nearly 20 years ago now, wow!) that isn't canon but that does provide some hope for a reconciliation between Vlad and Cawti. (http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~phoenix/brust/dream.html) The things that we can probably count on in Dzur: Vlad will learn of his son and be profoundly affected by the knowledge that he's a father. The future of his relationship with Cawti will likely be determined to a great extent by how he learns this. Cawti clearly cares about his well-being, but that doesn't equate to wanting him back as a husband. Yet, their differences were ideological ones. They didn't split because they hated each other. They split because their lives had become so far seperated that they couldn't bridge the gap any more. If the ensuing years have taught each of them to find a middle ground someplace, then they might still find a way to establish a new foundation to build their family upon. It will be interesting to see just what Cawti did with Vlads "interests" in the Organization. Did she turn it all over to Kragar? Attempt to dismantle it? Attempt to run Vlad's "business" and use it to improve the situation in South Adrilankha? We've seen the trouble that Vlad had to face in order to hold on to his business. If Cawti has managed to set herself up as a "benevolent crimelord" then it will be very interesting to see how she managed to handle or avoid the wars that she surely would have been faced with, not to mention the philosophical "war" she'd have to engage in with her former compatriots. Vlad will probably end up in several sword fights against foes that outnumber him and will, either literally or metaphorically, have to ultimately face down some force that he has no chance to win against, probably because it threatens his family in some fashion. He'll laugh while he does it. ;-) Ironically, despite being the antihesis of the Athyra, the House of the Dzur produces wizard caliber sorcerors just as the Athyra do. Sorcery and Witchcraft will likely be part of a running sub-theme of the story. There are my predictions. Like any good prediction, they're specific enough to point at something and say "See, I told you!" while being vague enough to be broadly interpreted as being "true" with only scant supporting evidence. *heh*