When we last left Rastus the ice behemoth stated he and Ayari are not too different from Despond and Hudaqil. The red dragon comforts his kin by stating they may be created from Despond and even though they want each other dead, they still have the capacity for peaceful discourse.
Rastus brings Ayari close and begs the question why does he want him dead? Ayari then confides it's Rastus that Despond chooses as his new vessel and he doesn't want that to happen.
Making Rastus look up, Ayari reveals they're in a shadow. A magic-dampening field brought upon by a Castmaster...