BW XXVIII - Milai

Body weary, Milai’s mind was anything but. Her well-deserved rest was broken by a need for answers: why had the Drow headed northwest? Where was Malor? Why had she heard nothing from the Vikriain? Did this mean the real battle had yet to be joined? Eventually succumbing to her body’s desire for rest her mind remained active, turning over the questions (at first) without answers; then came the vision:

Lit by four candles, placed in over-sized braziers, the oriental was bathed in yellow light as he went about readying himself: reading parchment, staring into the dark, deep in thought and, finally, turning towards pedestal on which, at head height, balanced the dark orb. Placing hands on the sphere, his oriental reflection was suddenly obliterated by a deep, purple glow. A voice came from the orb, growing in volume yet too indistinct for Milai to understand what it intoned. It was cut off by the man standing before her,

“Come now Lady, your intent was always to let others do your dirty work for you.”

“In this case, not so;” the female voice was soft, failing to rise to the obvious bait. “No, the Demon’s minions were too hasty. Clearly, they sensed a prize that they felt did not need to be shared. It appears, from my intelligence, they were wrong! Indeed, a stray volt of my Lady’s power sent them reeling.”

The disembodied voice broke into gentle laughter before continuing, “In any case, you failed to honour your part – luckily for you perhaps. Where exactly was the great samurai army?”

Failing to disguise his anger, the oriental snapped back, “It was marching against another, more pressing foe.”

“Oh?” the voice mocked surprise and then cajoled, “Have the Lost Souls come to haunt you?”

“You know the truth of it,” the man spat. “Perhaps I was too hasty in my offer of assistance!”

Seeking to amend for her ill received teasing, the voice climbed down from its lofty chortle, “No, no…come now Iki; whilst you do not trust me, I still have an Army in the West and support you at Sutur in the East. It is clear that we need each other – for now at least.”

Failing to be drawn in, the oriental asked the obvious, “How so, Inwe?”

“In Amorsland, you could use my help in defeating the dwarves and I could use your help in removing the Sea Elves.”

“And in Everinstar?” he probed, “What of the Demon? Is your intelligence that he had already moved against his most hated foe?”

“Well, that is a much more complex situation,” the voice serious now. “As you predicted, he is more interested in denying Demogorgon access to the Prime than clearing a few of the First Born from Amorsland. He also prizes the Artefacts most highly.”

“Not mine…” insisted the oriental.

“Perhaps not, but anything that could help bring him the Gem would be most useful,” she pressed.

Sensing a turn of fortune in the discussion the oriental struck, “So then, it is in our interest to ensure his focus stays in the East.”

“Your interest, perhaps, not mine…” the hasty response failed to hide completely her fear.

“Really?” he teased, “What do you have that needs to be hidden from the Demon or Demons?”

Recovering quickly Inwe answered guardedly, “I would not wish the Demon garner any more power, regardless of its origins.”

“Unless you or your minions could prize it from his grasp;” the man chuckled, “come on my Lady, you cannot fool me. Let’s face it, you have made some key allies; you do not need me.”

“I may have – not all to be trusted and certainly not enough to unlock the Prime. Ragnarak will be here soon and then the strongest will prevail – Glory to Hel!”

“Indeed, she will prevail, but will we?”

“You sound uncertain Malor. What has happened? Surely the failure to entreat with the eldest of elves and the youngest of men did not surprise you..?” a brief pause, “Oh, I see it did.”

A sharp response, “Perhaps my failure was to offer you so much assistance, at my own expense.”

“No need to talk of failure Iki,” the voice, feminine and calming now, sought to defuse the growing tension, “Are not my folk turned to face your enemy, away from my prize? Do we not seek the same immediate goal: to unlock Amorsland for our Lady before Ragnarak is unleashed?”

“Indeed, and if your troops do march against my enemies then you have my gratitude.”