Dragon quickstep

[Anastasia]

'Kossuth. Choose your side wisely, Seira Aryn. When Kossuth triumphs, he will remember those who stood with him and those that opposed him.'

[Corwin]

That's a pretty convenient segue into what she was already planning to ask him.

I'm displeased with the cooling of our friendship, she admits to Kassim. At first I thought that I should give Kossuth time, but it doesn't seem to be helping. What can I do to mend things between us?

[Anastasia]

'I have already told you. A war brews. The Crimson Firebrand will offer much when he emerges. Do not be tempted.'

[Corwin]

That covers alliances, but I don't think you can fix a friendship that way. I can feel Kossuth is still upset, and I don't like that we are in that situation, especially since it came about from my attempt to negotiate a settlement between he and a highly-placed agent of Celestia. Isn't there some way to clear the air on that?

[Anastasia]

'Kossuth burns bright and burns deep. Time and displays of loyalty will help, but there are no shortcuts. That will do better than a fleet of pretty words.'

[Corwin]

That feels pretty unfair, but such is life.

Thank you for speaking to me. Should I treat the information as priveleged, or may I tell my allies of the coming conflict?

[Anastasia]

'Keep it secret - but the Firebrand will be known very soon. Prepare yourself and those close to you.'

[Corwin]

I understand. Thank you again.

And then, there's nothing to do but gather her pantheon to discuss the implications.

[Anastasia]

Go ahead then - how do you plan on handling this?

[Corwin]

Once her family and friends are gathered in the war room of the Cauldron, secure from eavesdroppers via divine fiat, Seira fills them in on the conversation she had with Kassim.

"In summary," she concludes, "it seems my guess was spot on. Kassim has asked me to keep this close to my chest, so we won't be letting Zaaman Rul and others know just yet. It does seem that they won't be endangered by the Crimson Firebrand's actions, so we can afford to wait there."

Seira opens the floor to reactions, then.

[Anastasia]

Amaryl's first, her expression pensive, "With all we know now, there's more going on than even we gather. This feels as if it's part of a bigger plan."

"Probably, it usually is out here," Donald seconds, "Everyone's working an angle and it goes all the way up to the top. It's a lucky break, you can support Kossuth in this and make nice with him to help smooth over previous prob..." A pause. "Say! Was that why he was so upset about the divine seed? If he knew something like this was coming and the Crimson Firebrand would oppose him? But why not stop it well before now?"

Ranbar looks down at her hands before, "It would make sense. It has to tie back to the Incarnation of Law, doesn't it? The efreet are disposed towards law and from what Zaphkiel said? It has to be something that happened before they split. If the Crimson Firebrand's an actual threat to Kossuth, I'm sure both sides of the Incarnation have an opinion on it and can't agree."

"Ah, politics," Lady Sanzha slowly sips a bit of tea before going on, "Isn't it lovely? It seems the Firebrand is true divinity, beyond holding the title of the Grand Sultan. That's the proof that Ranbar's right. There's only three beings in Creation who can grant divinity. Which means, distastefully, that likely everything Baator has done to this point has been towards what Asmodeus wants out of this situation."

"Nothing new there," There's a hint of bite in Amaryl's tone, "There's always more between them - and helpful as he is, Zaphkiel's the same way." She rests back, "Like oaks with roots of the ages, there's always deeper roots. Even this is ultimately another piece towards our goal, rather than a true end of its own."

"That keeps politics entertaining. There's always another figure in the shadows," Lady Sanzha opines, "We can't do much about the agreements those two have with each other. If it's what's needed to ensure cooperation, then we have to accept it's the ocean we have to swim in. If it's anything like elemental antipathy, the two must privately loathe every moment of their cooperation, no matter how essential."

"That's no consolation," It's Amaryl who speaks, "...I still remember every moment we spent in Chronias. I don't relish his suffering. I mourn it, and mourn that he hasn't defeated Asmodeus yet."

"Regardless," Donald cuts in, "The real question is how do we benefit from this. Our cause is the most important of them all. What do you think, Seira?"

[Corwin]

"I think we'll need to hit Imix before things settle too much," Seira voices. "He's a genuine enemy to us, and a loose end. If we manage a confrontation before things are clarified with the Sultan, it shouldn't draw him into the fight. As for the Crimson Firebrand himself, I'd love to have a chat with him, but I just don't see us joining him against Kossuth. After all, our friendship with Kossuth goes back for decades, and the Sultan's history is not exactly suggesting a set of morals we'll find acceptable in any long-range partnership."

[Anastasia]

"Can we?" Amaryl asks bluntly, "The Crimson Firebrand may well interfere if he believes Imix an ally and us an enemy. We need to know how strong he is first. I can't imagine he hasn't considered that we'd do that, especially because it's an efreet thing to do."

That gets Lady Sanzha to merely gaze at Amaryl. After a few moments, "What I mean by that," Amaryl clarifies, "Is that it's coldly practical. It's the sort of thing a devil would do, or a typical efreet. I can't imagine it would escape the Crimson Firebrand's plans."

[Corwin]

"If he's seriously going after Kossuth, and more important, Kossuth is treating him as an actual threat, the Firebrand cannot possibly be counting on Imix to do anything meaningful there. While it would be convenient for him to have Imix along, having us strike at Imix may well fit his goals by turning him more antagonistic. I'm honestly not sure Imix could hate me more than he already does, but the Firebrand may well follow this tangent and not intervene. I would be remiss if I did not note that if he believes he can draw me to his side, acting against us and for Imix here would remove that possibility."

[Anastasia]

"Then it comes down to the question: Can we do it and is eliminating Imix worth the risk?" Lady Sanzha asks, "Even now, this will be no trivial battle, and facing him in his seat of power will be far harder than facing him on a battlefield. Moreso because such a situation would cause him to call on any pacts he can if he believes he faces true death."

"Of course it's worth it!" Amaryl fires back immediately, "Donald, Seira, you faced Imix last time. What do you think of your chances?"

"Give me a fight with him and I'd have a chance," Donald admits openly, "But he'll know more of what Seira and I can do now. He knows I don't die easy, so if he attacks me, I expect an overwhelming strike." He sits back and rubs his chin, "Or something to remove me from the battle instead. Really, his main goal should be Seira if she's in the battle, or maybe Amaryl if he knows how strong her bow is."