Emancipation

[Corwin]

"Even the lords of the Hells change, glacially as it may be," Seira muses. "Asmodeus could take her from him, and there was a time before he descended to rule Nessus. I will say this again, the Lost Chalice doesn't belong there and we will rescue her. Would you know of anyone who holds the plans to her prison, a map to her location, anything at all that might aid us in our task?"

[Anastasia]

"I may," Rald says at last, "I don't know for certain, but that person may know more."

[Corwin]

"Together, that sort of information would definitely be worth half a million Cauldron Golds."

[Anastasia]

"I emphasize may, not will," Rald points out, another drink. He offers you his hand.

[Corwin]

Seira nods her understanding, taking his hand.

[Anastasia]

"It's secure here, but if you want to take your own precautions?" Rald says, sitting back.

[Corwin]

"I've been monitoring the grounds to make sure no one is paying us any undue interest, but now...."

An application of her will makes things properly private. True, a stronger deity could intrude upon her, but she'd know if it happens.

"Please go ahead."

[Anastasia]

"Eligaas," Rald goes on right away, "I hear that devil's made himself comfortable in the Consortium and gets along well with the new leadership. Official story mentions him as a renegade who ran from Lixer's Evening of the Dead, but that's mostly whitewashed."

[Corwin]

"And under the circumstances, one might be forgiven for suspecting he had something to do with making it the new leadership in the first place?" Seira muses. "Is there any sort of proof of shady matters or his status in the Consortium?"

[Anastasia]

"Nothing conclusive, but I know how things work," Rald says, "He's up to his neck in something there."

[Corwin]

"Is he actually protected by the Consortium if he takes a more direct hand and ends up on the losing side?"

[Anastasia]

"It depends," Rald says, "But if he's in favor right now, then he's protected at least until that ends. It's a point of good business to protect those who cooperate with us to that extend, no matter how it's twisted to be used here."

[Corwin]

"Do you know who at the top are genuinely conspiring with him, as opposed to merely looking after their interests?"

[Anastasia]

A shake of his head, "That I don't know," he admits, "People aren't talking much - not about what matters, they're running tight on it."

[Corwin]

"What would be the result of a hypothetical situation where I personally or Waukeen bring this to light amidst the leadership of the Consortium?" Seira inquires. "Waukeen's once explained to me why she preferred to present a neutral front, and I believe the same reasoning applies to the Mercane as well. So if such realignment with devils were brought into the light of day, could it bring about positive change?"