The lost fortress (Afina, Jaela; 85 days left)

[Anastasia]

"What of the defector?" Ilsenine asks once you're out of the dungeons.

[Ebiris]

"We have her cosied up in a guest room," Afina answers. "We can thank her for Apasa's capture."

[Anastasia]

"Very well," Ilsenine agrees, "Lead on, Afina. I wish to lay eyes on her directly."

[Ebiris]

"As you like," Afina nods, leading Ilsenine off to Velasca's guest quarters.

[Anastasia]

You find Velasca sitting before the fire, watching it crackle. The pit fiend is a spot of red amid the guest room's other colors, a looming blob of hatred spread over reality. She looks up as you enter, "Well?"

[Ebiris]

"Apasa is enjoying our dungeons," Afina says, fluttering to the side of the more regal pixie. "Her Majesty Queen Ilsenine was interested in meeting you."

[Anastasia]

"You survived Gathgorian, the Child of Lifasa and the Duke of Destiny's ire," Velasca drawls, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. A little pixie has humiliated a Duke of Hell. Not all of that can be Hell's failings."

Ilsenine merely returns that with a cool expression, "Is that all you are, fool? Gibbering and scratching for a better hole to hide in, after the last failed you?"

[Ebiris]

Afina keeps her peace and just flutters a little behind and to Ilsenine's left. Hopefully she won't be asked to kill Velasca when she inevitably offends Ilsenine beyond her patience.

[Anastasia]

Velasca...sighs. It is a long sigh, her head bowed.

"I am a fool," she concurs. "I trusted Hell's sweet whisperings, trusted that I would have power unstoppable, that I would be a Queen."

"Hoping to become more than a fool by knowing you are a fool? Can a bird become a dog by knowing they are a bird?" Ilsenine asks, voice acidic, caustic. She glares coldly at the devil before her.

"Easy for you to speak of this, as-" That's as far as Velasca gets.

Ilsenine's voice is ice cold, "Easy for me to speak, for I speak for the millions murdered because of your greed. I speak easily because I speak for every soul wronged by you, damned to torment and eternal misery because of you. Be silent when your betters are talking, devil dog. I care nothing for your self pity or regrets. You live because you have made yourself useful, when what you deserve is torment or oblivion, whichever will suffer to have you."

Velasca goes silent at this, looking back to the flames. "Do you know of Antenora, the Opal Angel?" Her question is after some time. "The one only spoken of with fear, for her punishment will be legendary when she is caught. A traitor to Hell itself. Proof that there is a path beyond Hell for me. I am not a saint, not when I was mortal and certainly not now. Yet if a mere erinyes can free herself, then I will cast off Hell's mind and forge my own path."

[Ebiris]

"I met Antenora," Afina speaks up. "She is tolerably pleasant. Easy enough to think her a simple angel if one doesn't know the truth. But I don't care about random devils, so I made no issue of it. All the fiends of Cania and Malbolge and the rest can do as they like. It's the ones who raised their hands against Lifasa that concern me."

[Anastasia]

"In that you are the fool," Velasca says, "All of Hell is arrayed against you, now and forever. Do not think that because you don't concern themselves with them that they likewise ignore you."

[Ebiris]

"All of Hell is a whole lot, it's important to set yourself manageable expectations," Afina replies blandly. "Just working through the list will be the work of many mortal lifetimes."

[Anastasia]

Velasca is silent again at that, at least for a few moments. "I see," she finally says.

[Ebiris]

Afina is expressionless as she floats by her Queen, her interjection said and leaving it to Ilsenine if she has further need for conversation.

[Anastasia]

"We're done here," Ilsenine agrees, shooting you a moment's glance.