While Selina speaks she can't help but notice the ambassador's keen interest in her. Almost as if every word she spoke was a juicy morsel that the ambassador was ready to pounce upon and swallow whole.
"What are we talking about, Priest? True Answers?" asks the ambassador after Selina finishes. "Do you know the usual terms?"
The Magistrate steps forward and replies for Selina, "True Answers... and perhaps more. We'll see."
"Payment now, or later?" the ambassador replies, almost greedily.
Ambassador," says the Magistrate politely. "Your memory momentarily falters. I am credited three questions."
The ambassador stares at him a moment and laughs. "So you are, Magistrate. My deepest apologies. Proceed."
"Are there any unusual rules of the moment, ambassador?" asks the Magistrate pointedly.
The daemon nods his head (great hyena tongue briefly slavering from side to side) and smiles. "But the Priest has already made her request," the ambassador replies with a smile.
"She was unaware to ask about the rules of engagement. You cannot hold an innocent accountable when they are not even aware of the existence of special requirements. Your kind has rules." the Magistrate replies. Selina spots a fresh bead of sweat trickling down his cheek. She senses for the first time a hint of desperation. The polite words of negotiation masked the true battle happening before their eyes. You all get the feeling that this slight unknown error may have normally doomed them all but the Magistrate was fighting for them as fiercely as he knows how.
"Of course, Magistrate. But you should have counseled the Priest before allowing her to speak. This then is your error and it will cost you a question," the ambassador smiles broadly.
The Magistrate nods. "So then what are the rules of the moment, ambassador?"
"It is Melluary, Magistrate," it explained simply. "Usual rules of Melluary. Seven words, inverted."
The Magistrate nods, then glances at your group and mutters, "Got to get the damn words right. Bloody infantile bloody game!" He composes himself, concentrating hard. Then he speaks quickly and levelly, gazing calmly into the ambassador's eyes, "World their about information for them pardon?"
"Yes," replies the daemon instantly.
"Fifteen minutes," hisses Vansetty!
The ambassador waits...
"What are we talking about, Priest? True Answers?" asks the ambassador after Selina finishes. "Do you know the usual terms?"
The Magistrate steps forward and replies for Selina, "True Answers... and perhaps more. We'll see."
"Payment now, or later?" the ambassador replies, almost greedily.
Ambassador," says the Magistrate politely. "Your memory momentarily falters. I am credited three questions."
The ambassador stares at him a moment and laughs. "So you are, Magistrate. My deepest apologies. Proceed."
"Are there any unusual rules of the moment, ambassador?" asks the Magistrate pointedly.
The daemon nods his head (great hyena tongue briefly slavering from side to side) and smiles. "But the Priest has already made her request," the ambassador replies with a smile.
"She was unaware to ask about the rules of engagement. You cannot hold an innocent accountable when they are not even aware of the existence of special requirements. Your kind has rules." the Magistrate replies. Selina spots a fresh bead of sweat trickling down his cheek. She senses for the first time a hint of desperation. The polite words of negotiation masked the true battle happening before their eyes. You all get the feeling that this slight unknown error may have normally doomed them all but the Magistrate was fighting for them as fiercely as he knows how.
"Of course, Magistrate. But you should have counseled the Priest before allowing her to speak. This then is your error and it will cost you a question," the ambassador smiles broadly.
The Magistrate nods. "So then what are the rules of the moment, ambassador?"
"It is Melluary, Magistrate," it explained simply. "Usual rules of Melluary. Seven words, inverted."
The Magistrate nods, then glances at your group and mutters, "Got to get the damn words right. Bloody infantile bloody game!" He composes himself, concentrating hard. Then he speaks quickly and levelly, gazing calmly into the ambassador's eyes, "World their about information for them pardon?"
"Yes," replies the daemon instantly.
"Fifteen minutes," hisses Vansetty!
The ambassador waits...
