The demon sat in the darkness, tail swishing back and forth. The appendage occasionally paused to coil about one leg or another of the stool upon which the Au Ra sat. Across the male's knuckles danced a small gem that now and again caught the dim moonlight that peeked through the thin curtains drawn across the window panes.
The door frame creaked.
The tail ceased all movement, and the former Crow raised his head by a hair's breadth as he palmed his prize. He sat still for a handful of moments, listening to the restored silence, then snorted. "Well?"
"He'll do," rumbled the voice of the undead highlander leaning against the door to the private chambers of the Geneq. There was a hint of smug satisfaction in the Ala Mhigan's tone. "Took one life this sun. In time, he'll kill them all."
"Good." The tail resumed its to-and-fro. "Then he is returned to his family?"
"Aye."
"And the schedule? He is aware of the sanctions that will be imposed, the measures that will be taken if he fails to show at the appointed hour, stone in hand?"
"He is. He knows the schedule, down to the very bell. I... gifted him Ansfrid. The griffin will follow him at a distance, will answer his calls, will bear him where he needs to go. I thought it best. Less risk for us. Less travel to and from Ishgard."
"A wise decision. Excellent initiative. You are to be commended."
The rumble grew into a growl. Heavy footsteps sounded on the floorboards. "Mind yourself, Adonis. I care not for praise. You owe me, and you will--"
"--deliver, as per our arrangement. I have not forgotten, my friend, though I ask that you take your own advice. The sergeant must mature. I cannot, will not pluck fruit that has yet to ripen. You promised me patience and dedication. Do you flag? Are you tiring? Is the task that wearisome?"
The footsteps ceased.
"...no, captain. Apologies. Please... forgive me. My temper... please."
Those broad Auri shoulders quaked with mirth as a low chuckle danced around the room. "But of course, Ortolf. Apologies accepted. You and the others, you will have that which was promised to you. After all, we wage war, and yet you, my faithful soldiers, are not paid in coin. I owe each and every one of you a debt, and I pay my debts. Have I not done so for those of us who have already fallen? Lucien, Everett, Swynsald, Roroni, Otgonbayar...?"
"...you have."
"Your vengeance is nigh, Forgehands. Simply stay the course."
"Aye, captain. Thank you, captain."
"No," chirped the demon, "thank you, for sparing me that dreadful accent of yours."
"Naturally."
The Eorzean who'd once been Garlean half-turned on his seat and rolled his eyes for the undead man's benefit. Darkness mattered little to Crows. "Now you are stealing my affectations."
"Naturally."
Rotunda snorted again as he turned back to the window. "Occupy yourself for the night. At dawn, you are to accompany and safeguard Aviarium as she goes about our business."
The frown was evident in the highlander's reply. "But the girls--"
"--I do not trust the women, not as I trust you. She chose them, not I. Besides, it comforts her, to know that an extension of my will shadows her every movement, ready at a moment's notice to come to her aid. Particularly after that degrading incident with Grimsong. I will not have a reoccurance, nor will I take undue risks with either of our lives. Do I make myself clear?"
"Aye, Rotunda."
The gem began its dance once more across the Au Ra's knuckles. "Dismissed."
He heard the sound of falling ash and felt the ghost of a slight breeze. Rotunda Crow was alone again, save for the Auri female fast asleep on the nearby bed. He brought the dance to a stop, turned his hand face-up. Upon the palm sat a soulstone, dark as midnight, and the gem glowed, pulsed with a malevolent shade of violet light.
"I know just the witch for you, bauble," he whispered. "But first, you will yield to me one secret. The worst secret."
He closed his fingers over the stone and clenched his fist; the light flared, shone through the gaps between his fingers, white and black and teeming with memory. Adin Adonis bared his fangs as his eyes swam in visions of an age long past.
"Show me how to rend the curtain. Show me the Void."
The door frame creaked.
The tail ceased all movement, and the former Crow raised his head by a hair's breadth as he palmed his prize. He sat still for a handful of moments, listening to the restored silence, then snorted. "Well?"
"He'll do," rumbled the voice of the undead highlander leaning against the door to the private chambers of the Geneq. There was a hint of smug satisfaction in the Ala Mhigan's tone. "Took one life this sun. In time, he'll kill them all."
"Good." The tail resumed its to-and-fro. "Then he is returned to his family?"
"Aye."
"And the schedule? He is aware of the sanctions that will be imposed, the measures that will be taken if he fails to show at the appointed hour, stone in hand?"
"He is. He knows the schedule, down to the very bell. I... gifted him Ansfrid. The griffin will follow him at a distance, will answer his calls, will bear him where he needs to go. I thought it best. Less risk for us. Less travel to and from Ishgard."
"A wise decision. Excellent initiative. You are to be commended."
The rumble grew into a growl. Heavy footsteps sounded on the floorboards. "Mind yourself, Adonis. I care not for praise. You owe me, and you will--"
"--deliver, as per our arrangement. I have not forgotten, my friend, though I ask that you take your own advice. The sergeant must mature. I cannot, will not pluck fruit that has yet to ripen. You promised me patience and dedication. Do you flag? Are you tiring? Is the task that wearisome?"
The footsteps ceased.
"...no, captain. Apologies. Please... forgive me. My temper... please."
Those broad Auri shoulders quaked with mirth as a low chuckle danced around the room. "But of course, Ortolf. Apologies accepted. You and the others, you will have that which was promised to you. After all, we wage war, and yet you, my faithful soldiers, are not paid in coin. I owe each and every one of you a debt, and I pay my debts. Have I not done so for those of us who have already fallen? Lucien, Everett, Swynsald, Roroni, Otgonbayar...?"
"...you have."
"Your vengeance is nigh, Forgehands. Simply stay the course."
"Aye, captain. Thank you, captain."
"No," chirped the demon, "thank you, for sparing me that dreadful accent of yours."
"Naturally."
The Eorzean who'd once been Garlean half-turned on his seat and rolled his eyes for the undead man's benefit. Darkness mattered little to Crows. "Now you are stealing my affectations."
"Naturally."
Rotunda snorted again as he turned back to the window. "Occupy yourself for the night. At dawn, you are to accompany and safeguard Aviarium as she goes about our business."
The frown was evident in the highlander's reply. "But the girls--"
"--I do not trust the women, not as I trust you. She chose them, not I. Besides, it comforts her, to know that an extension of my will shadows her every movement, ready at a moment's notice to come to her aid. Particularly after that degrading incident with Grimsong. I will not have a reoccurance, nor will I take undue risks with either of our lives. Do I make myself clear?"
"Aye, Rotunda."
The gem began its dance once more across the Au Ra's knuckles. "Dismissed."
He heard the sound of falling ash and felt the ghost of a slight breeze. Rotunda Crow was alone again, save for the Auri female fast asleep on the nearby bed. He brought the dance to a stop, turned his hand face-up. Upon the palm sat a soulstone, dark as midnight, and the gem glowed, pulsed with a malevolent shade of violet light.
"I know just the witch for you, bauble," he whispered. "But first, you will yield to me one secret. The worst secret."
He closed his fingers over the stone and clenched his fist; the light flared, shone through the gaps between his fingers, white and black and teeming with memory. Adin Adonis bared his fangs as his eyes swam in visions of an age long past.
"Show me how to rend the curtain. Show me the Void."