Knowledge shall lead the...

[Anastasia]

Gathgorian smiles, all teeth and malice. "Bel has proven he is not enough and he will not tolerate your lead. I will lead," he declares. "We need not like each other, we need only cooperate on this matter."

The former Lord of the First's glare is like a bonfire, as if raw, burning hatred was cast atop you. "We cooperate like adventurers. Like..."A  pause, a sour look, "Equals."

[Corwin]

"Eh, sure why not. Let's give equality a chance! But seriously, do either of you have dominion over War?"

[Anastasia]

"I do," Bel rumbles, while Gathgorian merely says, "We are beings of war, to crush chaos. We could have nothing less."

[Corwin]

"Right," Seira agrees, not having more to discuss with the pair.

[Anastasia]

It is a cold, silent walk up those stairs. Yet it is not silent forever.

"I would have you pass a message to Aurora, and through them Afina of Aurora," Gathgorian declares. "That Afina should call off her grudge - I have moved beyond her reach. She need not throw her life and soul away. Tell her to find contentment in her victory and world, and forget of matters beyond her reach to change."

[Corwin]

"She won't do that, but I don't mind reaching out to her," Seira responds. Besides, she has her own opinions on Afina's chances, given she's the Cauldron's first success at prismatic breakthrough.

[Anastasia]

"Then she will die," Gathgorian says, as if merely stating a fact. No anger, no passion - merely what is said and known, beyond being remarkable. "I will remember her."

[Corwin]

Seira doesn't deign that with an answer.

[Anastasia]

You walk up and up - until you find yourself emerging outside of the fortress. Into the darkness of Nessus, where a portal awaits you.

"Go," Bel says shortly, "We shall met in nine days."

[Corwin]

Seira nods. "Until then," she tells the pair, and then she steps through the portal.

[Anastasia]

You appear in the Astral and thus the way to home is evident as...

Next move?

[Corwin]

Seira heads home for now, even as she sends Xera and Zariel an invitation to visit.

[Anastasia]

You arrive home and find yourself distracted, lost in thought. Your mind seems to drift back to the war of its own accord, leaving you lost in thought.

[Corwin]

Is it because those two devils talked about how it's a large part of their nature? Seira likes to think that her own achievements brought people relief; Bel and Gathgorian probably won't know a just war if it looked them in the face.

[Anastasia]

They also wouldn't care if a war is just, honestly, beyond surface platitudes. But you already know that.

You remember the war, you recall the battles. The heat of fire, the efreet and the Sultan, the maneuvering and the combat. It feels vivid in your mind as you recall that and more.