Thought I'd toss out a prediction. I'm observing the fact that Durkon is currently a pile of ash, right next to Hilgya who really hates him. Then we have Chekhov's beard. Not just the initial random slicing of a chunk of beard at the Godsmot, but a second mention of it later when talking about needing a piece of Durkon to track him.
My guess? Hilgya does something like gust of wind (or whatever the cleric equivalent may be) and scatters Durkon's ashes. The party laments that he can't be resurrected now. OMG! The whole plan is wiped out (assuming they res Minrah and she tells them what's going on and how critical Durkon is to things). Oh wait! The beard qualifies. It was a part of his body during his "death" (which was back in the pyramid, not just now in the Dwarf lands). And either they rush off to go there, or the Godsmoot finishes, and they send to them and have him resurrected there, to meet up with the party later. Not sure how this works story wise, but it just seems like Rich doesn't usually drop clues like this and then not use them later.
Also allows for Hilgya to help the party finish off the Vamps and save the day, without having to deal with the Hilgya/Durkon resolution in the middle of all of that. That can wait until after the Godsmoot is resolved, or even not at all if they have to rush off from wherever to the north pole (leaving that hanging until a full resolution at the end of the next book perhaps?).
____________________________
King Nobby wrote:
More words please