Editing BW29 - Lan Zi (section)

== Discussing a deal with a Demogorgon (check?) ==

“Bring me the Palantir, I must communicate,” Inwe barked into the darkness, panting slightly – not from the effort, Lanzi realised, but from exhilaration.  

Drow appeared from the edges of Lanzi’s dream, dragged the still convulsing body away and replaced it with a pedestal on which was carefully placed the scrying stone.  At first, only the occasional glimmer of purple-blue light flickered across the sphere; then, as Inwe’s gaze focussed more intently, it began to glow with shifting hues of purple,indigo, violet and flashes of electric white, so bright that it blinded Lanzi momentarily.

A deep, booming voice – as much a bark as actual language – came from where the stone was placed, “You have some good news for me?” it asked. ''{bark suggests Demogorgon and this fits with what we know}''

Distracted by taking a life, she seemed not to care about here response, which was blunt, “No.”

“Then what do you want?” Came the equally terse response. 

“Nothing,” the Drow queen chose her words more carefully now, “except to say that we need to change the deal.”
It was the male’s turn to be blunt, “No.”

Not an entirely unexpected reply it was clear, but Inwe pressed nonetheless, “But you haven’t heard what I have to say.”

“I don’t care what you have to say;” the orb pulsed in time with the tempo of the voice only swapping hue amongst the most dark of purples, “you told me that I would have Yishmay and I am not interested in excuses.”

“Of course,” Inwe thought out loud, “you know, don’t you?”

“Of course…” the voice was slightly mocking.

“Well,” the Drow Queen gathered herself, “her father will be found soon and, in any case, we will deliver the daughter to you.  And you will remember our bargain.”

Then, like the crushing impact of a Trebuchet’s missile, he dropped the stone, “She has gone.”

“What?” Lanzi knew that Inwe had no idea what the voice meant.  Her face betrayed her confusion.

“You know…” the voice chided.

“No.” Inwe’s confusion remained for just a fleeting second, before Lanzi saw something dawn on her – her expression grew dark.

“She is not where I expected her to be and she has not come to you…” the voice expressed its owner’s irritation, “So, where is she?”

“I don’t know.” It is clear to Lanzi from the return of the slightly confused expression, that Inwe is telling the truth.

Still disbelieving, the question was obvious, “Really?”

“Yes,” Inwe’s confidence returned, “that would not be in my interest.”

Angry now, patience exhausted, “No, it would not!”

Musing to herself, Inwe whispers, “We will watch and wait,” then, louder, “She is probably with her father.”

Still harsh the voice booms from the orb, which darkens with every syllable, “Then I have no business with you.”

''{so, whatever deal Inwe had struck was dependent on delivering Yishmay and she is now unable to do that}''