Emancipation

[Anastasia]

A long drink. "I couldn't begin to comment," Rald says. After a thought, "But hypothetically, losing a proposal about slavery I could see hypothetically happening. To lose one from, hypothetically again, a deity is more alarming." He looks down at his drink, "It indicates a more nuanced or politically messy situation, hypothetically. Unless it really was a clerical error of some kind. Legend says that even Waukeen once had a request lost. It's said that the mercane behind it are still paying her restitution."

[Corwin]

"I offered a framework for what I considered suitable compensation," Seira states, frowning. "It could've served as a starting position for negotiations and was clearly framed as such. However, what truly made this exceptional is that the new management approached me, not the other way around. At the exact same time my good friend Alicia was approached by him, at that."

[Anastasia]

"Hypothetically," Rald goes right on, "I'd say that you're looking at behind the scenes disagreements, or different departments not being on the same spell. It's not impossible after a change." He drinks up, "In a hypothetical situation I wouldn't believe it but it's not impossible."

[Corwin]

"The Consortium is effectively an enemy at present, we simply haven't clashed yet," Seira muses. "Unfortunate, but I don't see much in the way of chances to clear the air in the current climate."

[Anastasia]

"Step carefully," Rald says, "Though if I need to tell you that, it's already too late for you." He considers and drinks, "Hypothetically....I may have something to provide insight beyond what you have."

[Corwin]

"Let's discuss this hypothetical information, and its equally hypothetical price?" Seira proposes.

[Anastasia]

"500,000 gold coins," Rald says without hesitation.

"You must have something of the most sublime value," Sanzha says slowly, a pause to drink, "Or you court disaster."

"Something you won't get any other way," Rald says, "I'm not supposed to know this name, so much that not even my agreements bind me on it."

[Corwin]

Seira nods slowly. "Before we make any deals, I first want to confirm whether you might have actionable information on the Lost Chalice?"

[Anastasia]

There's a pause here.

"...forever and for all time," Rald murmurs, his expression closed off in an instant. "Forever and for all time."

[Corwin]

It seems like a piece of lore I cannot look up on a phone. My knowledges are over 100.

[Anastasia]

Okay.

Forever and for all time? It's a little obscure to non devils but you know it. It's a typical closing Dispater uses for official communications. It's very much a closing line.

[Corwin]

"Devil propaganda, in the end. We're getting her out, after all."

[Anastasia]

Rald drinks up, glass drained.

"I've met Dispater a few times," he goes right on. "Parties, meetings, the sort of thing that makes connections that moves countless piles of gold coins. Have you ever had the occasion?"

[Corwin]

"Nothing comes to mind."

[Anastasia]

"You don't realize it at first. He's charming, urbane, witty," Rald lists off, "He'll make you laugh, draw you into the conversation. You'll chat away, have the time of your life. He'll know about you, what you have and know how to engage you. You find yourself agreeing with him more and more - and if you notice, it's like you can't move. All you can do is go along. Everything's so solid around him, like iron. When I realized that, when I felt that panic..."

A drink.

"That's when he excuses himself, and departs by saying that: Forever and for all time. He knows you forever and for all time. He will have his, forever and for all time. He will reign forever and for all time."

Another drink, a refill before he goes on - but Sanzha cuts in gently.

"That's not uncommon when you meet divinity," the former Padisha says, "If Seira chose to unleash herself, you would feel something equally powerful but different."

A third drink, down quick and smooth. "Thank you for not doing that," Rald's voice is quieter, shaky. "He has her. I know because I wondered when we talked once, wondered if someone so pleasant to be around could really kidnap her - and he merely looked at me. He didn't have to say it for me to hear it: Forever and for all time he'll have her."