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[Anastasia]

As you go down...

There is a complication to the war, Seira.

[Corwin]

How so? Seira inquires, continuing to head down. Chrona will return them while no time has passed, so even an immediate, all-out potential attack just doesn't carry the same urgency with it as it otherwise would.

Barachiel, right?

[Anastasia]

Yes.

Akil bin Faheem has made two offers to Celestia through a back channel.

[Corwin]

Unexpected. Are you able to share the contents with me?

[Anastasia]

The first offer is to broker a negotiated peace. That the war will benefit no one and we can stop it before it spirals out of control.

The second, offered if the first was rejected, is that he wishes to permanently adjust the political landscape of the City of Brass, and the current Sultan's reign may be close to an end.

[Corwin]

Seira snorts in amusement. It's this experience, where you didn't expect something but it makes perfect sense the instant you hear about it. So there's the obvious throwaway option we're meant to refuse for the perpetuation of that hateful status quo, and immediately afterwards he proposes to stab his master in the back! And I bet that even if we approached the Sultan with this, there's some other third plan running in the background, where Akil pretends he's just tricking us. Is that about your analysis as well?

[Anastasia]

I see three possibilities.

It may be a sincere offer to gain power.

It may be exactly as you say.

It may be as you say, but the Grand Sultan is involved in the plot.

Also, we cannot rule out Hell manipulating matters through Akil.

The trouble of it is that discerning which is the truth is far from simple.

[Corwin]

Were this offer made to me, I would reject it after consideration, Seira muses. That two options were presented is an attempt to lock us into thinking they are the only ones available and to force us to choose between them. In fact, both are bad. We can achieve our goals of ending slavery across the Inner Planes without a pact with Hell to divine Fire between us, which is where this would undoubtedly lead if the offer is sincere.

[Anastasia]

We are not inclined to take it, either. But it may be meant to appeal in the future.

[Corwin]

Much as I want him dead, if he takes out the Sultan to seize power and abolishes slavery, I'll consider my goals for the war achieved. So we'll see what happens, I suppose?

[Anastasia]

Until then.

Meanwhile Kascha looks on, "Who is it, Seira?"

[Corwin]

"Barachiel wanted a consult." Seira smiles at Kascha. "Don't worry, things are fine outside. Now, let's see where the last stairway leads?"

[Anastasia]

The last stairway's solid - you just can't advance, like trying to push through solid stone.

[Corwin]

"Is it frozen in time?" Seira wonders. Interactions with people during Time Stop are blocked in a similar fashion, so she figures she might as well explore that possibility first.

[Anastasia]

"Sort of," Is the answer, "Are you familiar with Time Stop?"