Meeting Hell (Afina, Jaela, Tryll)

[Anastasia]

"Oh, we have him covered." A flash of white teeth as Martinet smiles. "I assure you the nitty-gritty of his situation with us isn't needed."

"You don't want to hear what we do with prisoners, do you?" Damian adds, gazing at Jaela.

[Corwin]

"I have a very vivid imagination," Jaela assures Damian, her own gaze resting upon Albade. "Though I imagined it would be more of an execution. It's only proper for the likes of him, wouldn't you agree?"

[Anastasia]

Baron Sanfir interjects with a thick, choked laugh, like he has a cold. "Oh oh, isn't that some gumption?"

Colonel Derkel leans forward a little, "Why don't you tell me what your imagination says, Jaela," His voice is rather rough, but there's something commanding about it. You find yourself wanting to obey automatically, without thinking.

[Corwin]

It takes a great deal of willpower to throw off the suggestion, especially as it came so unexpectedly, and Jaela pauses as if in thought.

Returning her attention to Martinet while snubbing the colonel, she muses, "Getting back to the meat of the situation, as you so aptly described it, I can only imagine that the end goal is extermination. After all, I can hardly imagine the present company being afraid of some demon, even one as powerful as the Father."

[Anastasia]

Lady Kaessa smiles coldly as the Colonel's expression becomes closed off at being ignored.

"I wouldn't say you're wrong," Martinet agrees, "I think these terms for Muirfinn are good ones. What is Aurora's position?"

"They're good terms, don't you think?" Damian says, "A golden opportunity, don't you see?"

[Corwin]

'Mirajane?' Jaela thinks to her daughter, humming noncommittally. This is a situation where she can't appear too eager, or they'll murder her while discussing the actual details. 'What does your intuition tell you? Is it a trap?'

[Yuthirin]

'It is extremely unlikely that Hell wishes the Father destroyed at this time. More likely they think they can control him or manipulate him in some way. It would be safer to send his prison to Chronias, even with the difficulty of finding a way there. This would likely either ensure the Father's destruction or ultimate redemption, whatever Chronias chooses to do. I do not recommend acceding to this deal without further detail.' Tryll sends to the group.

[Anastasia]

'There's more than they're telling us, I'm sure of it. Antenora's right, it's not just to destroy The Father. I keep coming back to one point - Asmodeus will have The Father. What will he do with him? Is that worth Muirfinn's soul?' Mirajane says.

Morniel adds to that, 'We cannot live in fear of what evil will do. We must save the righteous when we can.'

'Yes,' Antenora agrees, 'But do not discount Hell's machinations. Do not discount his machinations. I can't tell Aurora what to do here, only you can decide if this risk is worth Muirfinn's soul.'

[Corwin]

"Okay, here's the deal. Aurora is amenable to this exchange in principle, but has two conditions before we proceed to the finer details. The first is that Muirfinn is delivered here to be a guest of our gracious hostess, if she is not opposed to the notion," she says, nodding in Vla'akith's direction, "to be released into our care once proceedings conclude amiably. The other condition is that you go into how the might of Hell will crush the Father, though I wonder why I'd even need to bring this up at all." Jaela quirks her lips into a smile. "After all, isn't the phrase 'To all, understanding and wisdom' at the very center of these negotiations?"

[Anastasia]

"Some understand much clearer than others," Antenora quips, smiling. That comments gets her less than friendly gazes from a few.

"I see the deserter remembers how to talk," General Albade rumbles, wisps of black smoke coming out from his mouth as he does.

"Talk? I prefer to sing," Antenora replies coolly, "Would you care to hear the song I sing to welcome the righteous to Sylica? You would find it enlightening, slave."

"Enough," Kaessa interjects, voice a captivating thing that stops all the conversations cold and draws eyes to her. So beautiful...it's hard not to admire and worship her in sheer awe, yet Afina feels her stomach turn. Jaela can feel her bile rise and Tryll feels the phantom pains of heartburn, bringing back ancient memories. Even as her words are sweet things that say, "I invite you to come and sing before Lady Glasya. You would be an honored guest in her court, Antenora. You need only recant and vow loyalty to her."

"Peace," Mirajane says, gaze burning bright white. "Your words are poisonous as your touch, Lady Kaessa. Be silent."

[Ebiris]

Afina doesn't engage in any pointless banter. Let them say and think what they will, if she's forced to involve herself then negotiations have failed in the starkest terms. For now she simply remains quiet, poised for any such eventuality.

[Yuthirin]

"Are we gonna fight now?" Calleigh asks, "Is this gonna be a fight? 'Cause that would probably be dumb."

[Corwin]

"Isn't it nice? Every proper conversation needs to have some back and forth banter," Jaela says sweetly, biting back bile. "Are you accepting Aurora's conditions so that we may proceed, Duke?" she directs towards Martinet.

[Anastasia]

"Yes. Peace, friends. We don't want to fight." Martinet smiles, "Let us stop this digression."

"Yes, you don't want to fight, do you?" Damian adds, waving a tiny pitchfork about.

"If we're done with that, let's get back to it. Your first term is to have Muirfinn here. Is there any objection to that, Queen Vlaakith?"

"It is...acceptable." Queen Vlaakith finally speaks up, having watched the proceedings silently.

[Corwin]

"Your Majesty has our gratitude for being so accommodating," Jaela voices.