A Brief Visit To The Armory

[*Serena]

He is slightly taken off guard at the mentioning of torture, raising an eyebrow at the man's words with a puzzled expression, though the concept doesn't seem to bother him per se.
"Well, you find me unprepared, I don't know what kind of treatment will be reserved to him. Still, even should be as you mention, I do not expect to be asked to fulfil that kind of task myself, to be honest.
I appreciate the offer, though. Will keep it in mind should it be the case." He adds with absolutely no irony in the statement.


In the same way, he didn't seem to expect the interest shown by the other in the Tanar'ri soul, but this time he remains silent, listening at him with a neutral expression as he explains his point of view regarding the question and propose his version of the deal.

When the man finishes speaking, he keeps his silence for a couple more seconds, then finally replies in analytical tone.

"So... I give you informations and my assistance.. leave the Growers and Timlin himself along with his sword to your mercy, and hand you over something that was meant as a payment for my Faction.
In exchange, I get assistance in getting Mullcare and bringing him to Ysgard.

I am afraid you'll need to convince me this deal is going to be a fair one, because right now it doesn't seem quite so.." He concludes still staring at the man, his tone again completely free of any irony despite the words.

[*Krayt]

"So the soul has far greater importance than you would let me believe. Not something I will be willing to part with. Perhaps it is better we pursue this enemy and it's spoils seperately? The deal is Mullcare for Lightbringer. But there is no guaranties we will find the blade. A man entrqapped in the maze how ever would be fairly easy to find. Your statement had me belived that the souls information was you primary concern, your claim now is contradictionary to that. The Doomguard cannot simply let such an artifact be parted with to be held by yours without being used. And the information you hold is by no means exeeding our own or you would have acted upon it far earlier without our aid."

"I do not consider this deal adventageous in any aspect. Lightbringer is only a sword and by no means a weapon of mass destruction had it been otherwise the deal itself would have been worth more to us. And that is even if it is found.Quite obviously the soul is a greater Tanar'ri's soul. Compared to a sword a Demon lord freed of it's Shell is capable of dealing far more damage to the verse if freed. If Timlin himself would be found however that alter things. But it all depends on what that soul shell houses. And of course the actuall finds."

"The way I see it. You get Mullcare I get lightbringer. That's one deal I can agree upon.If the soul itself has no value to you as you said you will have the information you want while the demon itself remains with the Doomguard. Why would you even object to that? Timlins remains for the soul if both would be found is something I can consider. No there is a hidden value in that gem and as you present the reluctance to part with it I must think it considerable."

[*Serena]

Again he listened at him with great attention, then brought a hand to his forehead, scratching at it as he moved his gaze on the floor for a moment.

"That must have been my fault, for poorly choosing my words... I need to point out that, if I intended to misinform you, I could have just kept quiet about the soul, since I know there was no way you could have known about it on your own.

My words were mainly referring to the fact that I can't be sure about the soul presence an its retrieval. It's long time it has been stolen, and I didn't want to give you the impression I wanted to include in the deal something that may not be there just to later invalidate our pact." There was a hint of challenge in his last words, immediately gone as soon as he spoke again.

"Still, should the soul be long gone, Mullcare will have the information on how it was used. But that information... well, it is mostly a curiosity of mine.
I will gladly settle for the information should the soul not be retrieved. That is."

"Also, I do not think your informations are equal to mine. It is clear, as you still doubt the presence of Lightbringer. And that of Timlin." He added, now looking again straight at him. "I have come to you because I had knowledge your Faction was going to be involved in this, even if just for the sword and the sake of destroying a concept opposing to yours. And I'm not a fool enough to not realize cooperation is better than stepping on eachother feet. There's the Harmonium already I need to care about on that matter."

"I bear no personal interest in the soul per se. My Faction does. And for this, I can't bargain it for nothing, it would be my reputation at stake should I agree to that.
With this concept clear, let me reword the deal:

Mullcare for Lightbringer, the Tanar'ri for Timlin.
And with this, I mean that our deal will be valid until and as long as both of us reach what they want."

[*Krayt]

He considered again if he had overestimated Timlin for his achivements. He knew his own precautions when ever doing something that involved higher risks.

"I have doubts as to whether that soul is a Tanar'ri. I it is no deception of your own targeting me. Mayhap it is you that have been decived. A imprisoned power? Upon realeasing this her Serenity would flay it. Even a lesser Balor wouldn't and while I have great respect for your Factions achivements I cannot believe that the trapped being can rival the Lady. This leaves a few openings for a musing mind. Either the soul is Timlins himself or a subsitute, I have dealt with eough of them to know that not even a soul is something unique they can be merged they can be altered, innumerable posibilities. But if we is given the body we will find away to drag his soul back into it from damnation itself only to oblitterate it once and for all. If it on the otherhand is a demon like you said he could either se it as means of escape or use it to ressurect the former Factol into a twisted resemblance. Only a few of the speculations that can be made.If you wish to know that I suggest we do a little interrogation prior to the delivery."

Mauric turned around again setting a palm on the desk leaning in over it once more the lower end of his cloak swaying faintly from the sudden motion.

"I sympathise with your position and I'm ready to make a compromise though it pains me to see this storm fettered in it's prison, curious hands can rarely help themself from tampering with such objects however and it is only a matter of time before someone frees it. I do have the actions of my last deal with the takers fresh in mind however. But we have harped through that already."

In silence he watched his strategic set up as if unable to take his mind of that for very long.

"Lightbringer and Timlin to us. Mullcare and the stolen soul to you if still in exsistence. Information to be shared both ways without withholding anything regarding the Growers. Subtile assistence when it comes to their complete eradication."

"You have yourself a covenant. The deal is made. Now both ends just have to be reached. Methinks you will find a more thrustworthy ally in me than your own."

[*Serena]

He sighed slightly after following the other's thoughts.
"Whether they deceived me or not, it is of no interest to me. I believe I have the needed information required for my safety, now, whether they asked me to retrieve a piece of glass or a diamond, it makes no difference.
Still, I believe all our speculations will be either validated or discarded in the near future.
I have enough patience." He concluded without any kind of emotion to his statement.

"But I don't want you to wonder too much about this soul and his purpose... I can already tell you that to us it only represent a simple political issue with Cania. An issue we need to resolve.
Whether it will get freed at some point or not... well, it's something I don't need to worry about in this very moment."


Then, as the man finally seemed to accept the agreement, he fell quiet and nodded once with a firm gesture.

"It is a deal, then.
And I hope what you say is true, for I'd rather not waste my time on an unworthy alliance. I have done that already too many time now."

He then stops, and for a moment looks at his hands before looking back at him.
"If you want to seal the pact somehow, do speak. Or else, I will be going."

[*Krayt]

He listned to the explination intently while overlooking his board. "That changes things indeed. I fail to see why Mullcare had any use for this."

"I've had more than my fill of such futile alliances as well. I trust this to be different however."

"I believe written words to be just as breakable as the spoken. No need for any documentation as it serves no purpose. The guards will escort you out. Leave the equipment here." He gestured towards the door once again turning his full attention the desk.

[*Serena]

"I never spoke of documents," he replied with a slight shrug, "but that's fine. We'll meet again when time will come, I suppose."

With those last words and a barely noticeable bow, he turned to the door, gesturing to the man with him and waiting for the guards to show them the way.