A Deal with the Devil
The dream takes us to a familiar location in a new expanse, somewhere at the edge of Near Space, as far from the Pact Worlds as one could be without entering the Vast. The Forge, its surface portals currently closed, a Hellknight citadel hovering in the distance...
Derrak: "We are getting impatient. Where is Isra?"
Cromwell: "We're not lying, Derrak. She's missing." Cromwell heard the Dwarf scowl over the audio connection, steam hissing out of his armor. Derrak: "My best diviners say she has returned home! If not here, where?" Cromwell chewed the inside of his cheek, muting the line to give himself privacy. He had no doubt in his mind that the diviners' visions were true, and that Isra had returned home. But the existence of their original homeworld was a secret only he knew, save perhaps Entity, and even if he did share the knowledge, the logs in Grandsmith's workshop didn't state its location. It had been a factoid up until now -- he'd never given it much thought, especially during their enslavement. He had no doubt that Derrak's mystics were listening in on the call, so his best bet was to lie, but also tell the truth. Cromwell: "I don't know where, Derrak. Truly. Can we not come to some other agreement?"
Derrak: "We have an agreement. With Isra. She has decided to ignore her half of that bargain." There was a general sound of displeasure on the other line, coming from multiple different voices. The Order of the Scourge had helped free them from Aspis Consortium rule, and had protected them for months. All Isra had to do was pass some words back and forth with the Devil... But Isra was gone, and no one could find out where she went. Cromwell: "I don't have Isra. I don't know where she is. I understand the two of you had an agreement, but the Forge was never hers to give. Not that I believe she would ever promise you such a thing..."
Derrak: "Promise? No. Information for protection, that was our agreement. But if protection is not to be provided... I see lawlessness in your people, Cromwell. A lack of modern purpose. My lord Asmodeus decrees that we... Right such wrongs."
Cromwell: "You intend to fire on the Forge?"
Derrak: "Fire? No such need. Simply surrender." Cromwell looked across the room to Denerin, who was listening in the corner. He shook his head, and pulled a laser pistol off a nearby table, checking the batteries for damage. Cromwell: "The Children of the Forge have had their fill of foreign masters."
Derrak: "Ha! I will give you time to reconsider. Tomorrow at dawn, if you have not changed your answer, we will fire." Derrak cut the connection, and Cromwell sighed. Cromwell: "Has there been any word?"
Denerin: "No..."
Cromwell: "Then we go to war."
Cromwell: "We're not lying, Derrak. She's missing." Cromwell heard the Dwarf scowl over the audio connection, steam hissing out of his armor. Derrak: "My best diviners say she has returned home! If not here, where?" Cromwell chewed the inside of his cheek, muting the line to give himself privacy. He had no doubt in his mind that the diviners' visions were true, and that Isra had returned home. But the existence of their original homeworld was a secret only he knew, save perhaps Entity, and even if he did share the knowledge, the logs in Grandsmith's workshop didn't state its location. It had been a factoid up until now -- he'd never given it much thought, especially during their enslavement. He had no doubt that Derrak's mystics were listening in on the call, so his best bet was to lie, but also tell the truth. Cromwell: "I don't know where, Derrak. Truly. Can we not come to some other agreement?"
Derrak: "We have an agreement. With Isra. She has decided to ignore her half of that bargain." There was a general sound of displeasure on the other line, coming from multiple different voices. The Order of the Scourge had helped free them from Aspis Consortium rule, and had protected them for months. All Isra had to do was pass some words back and forth with the Devil... But Isra was gone, and no one could find out where she went. Cromwell: "I don't have Isra. I don't know where she is. I understand the two of you had an agreement, but the Forge was never hers to give. Not that I believe she would ever promise you such a thing..."
Derrak: "Promise? No. Information for protection, that was our agreement. But if protection is not to be provided... I see lawlessness in your people, Cromwell. A lack of modern purpose. My lord Asmodeus decrees that we... Right such wrongs."
Cromwell: "You intend to fire on the Forge?"
Derrak: "Fire? No such need. Simply surrender." Cromwell looked across the room to Denerin, who was listening in the corner. He shook his head, and pulled a laser pistol off a nearby table, checking the batteries for damage. Cromwell: "The Children of the Forge have had their fill of foreign masters."
Derrak: "Ha! I will give you time to reconsider. Tomorrow at dawn, if you have not changed your answer, we will fire." Derrak cut the connection, and Cromwell sighed. Cromwell: "Has there been any word?"
Denerin: "No..."
Cromwell: "Then we go to war."
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