Heating the Iron (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"Yes, I think you're right," Ilsenine says, "Thank you, Afina, you were helpful."

[Ebiris]

That's a dismissal if ever she heard one, so Afina gets up. "I live to serve, your Majesty," she answers, seeing herself out.

[Anastasia]

You find 27 waiting by the portal out of court. The badger-slaad looks up at you with big, watery eyes.

"I'm scared," he says aloud. "Something bad's coming."

[Ebiris]

"That's worrying," Afina says, though inwardly she despairs a bit given it wasn't so long ago that 27 was there to pour doom over her planned Lifasa assault. That never actually happened but she still hopes to get something in the works once Jaela's back. "Do you know how bad and when it'll get here?"

Though if it's coming then that excludes Tailiel who's already here! Unless he's the harbinger of worse... she has a feeling she's going to be second guessing that recruitment for a long time.

[Anastasia]

"It's coming back with Moore and Adrian," 27 says mournfully, "Will you protect me, Afina?"

[Ebiris]

"They haven't recruited an Inevitable, have they?" she asks, frowning a little. "Yes I'll protect you, 27. I've stood up for Annalise and Baleruk, of course I won't do less for you."

[Anastasia]

"Thank you," 27 says quietly, "I miss Ithea," he murmurs. "I'm afraid of what Gathgorian might become if he defeats Aurora and continues his plan. You have to kill him."

[Ebiris]

"I miss Ithea too," Afina says glumly. "Gathgorian I'll handle."

[Anastasia]

27 comes up to you and sits right before you. "Handle him. If he finds his answer, chaos may never recover."

[Ebiris]

"I'll do my best, don't worry," Afina reassures 27. And yes, she supposes she should be invested in the greater whole of Chaos given her recently discovered eladrin heritage.

[Anastasia]

27 looks up to you and nods slightly, "Please. Jaela has slain the worm hive mind and triumphed. Ithea is asleep. Tryll has found the book he sought, but it is not over yet. Moore is being blinded by the light because he was able to see what was hidden. Surraruthru strives for the tree, but the road is not clear."

[Ebiris]

"I hope Ithea wakes up soon."

[Anastasia]

27 nods and goes on, "A shadow might have passed by Aurora, but it wasn't part of this story. Be careful if you return to the Deep Ethereal. Crystal has an ordeal coming, but one she has to face on her terms. Seven more rings are needed. I want to see the new dawn on Lifasa."

[Ebiris]

"You really have gotten a lot more free with these nuggets recently, haven't you?" Afina observes, looking at 27. "Well, hopefully we'll get another of those rings soon. What more can you say about Crystal's ordeal?"

[Anastasia]

"That it is her struggle," 27 says, "She is to be tempered again."