I know he is jealous... there is no other rational explanation for Nae'Bris fuming hatred to Artemus. The first thing he asked when I told him about the trip to Illyria - if Artemus was coming. But can he not understand... despite anything I may feel about the shifter, I will always remain nothing but a temporary entertainment for him? and this naturally means that I have to keep the same attitude for Art, we asmodeans are a damn proud bunch... Artemus is an outsider, there's no reason to invite him, and why would he come in any case? I believe he would not know the difference if I send him a bioconstruct programmed to spend time with him in bed and drag him into the Tower if necessary.

My trust in my bodyguard means much more than my addiction. That is, if I wish Nae'Bris to remain relatively stable and loyal instead of rushing like a fool into situations that may harm us later.

The castle looked so... heavy. The walls were weighing heavily on her soul, their dead stone and dead space were suffocating. Asmodeans used the locals' stereotypes against them, riding horse-like beasts as opposed to being carried in a type of human-powered carriage. It took some effort not to look clumsy in the black dress on a horseback. Saelbain and Nae'Bris had no such problems. Bronze-colored baatezu looked at her.

"I know it's not your favorite, Rhaine. We'll try to get it done as soon as we can"

Dismounting was the first jovial moment of the day. Saelbain and Nae'Bris stood like two embodiments of willing aid, as she hopped off, landing like a cat, and tossed the silver-encrusted bridle into the hands of coming servant.

The human that greeted them, was dressed with disgusting pomp and lack of taste. Compared to him, asmodeans looked plain. Moving like a peacock he invited them to follow. Was it an unintentional insult? However within half a minute from this man's arrival, another one rushed down the steps. His clothes, as Saelbain transmitted mentally, looked much better than the first one's, and the metal circlet around his head could be seen even by Rhaine's eyes.

"Welcome to Castle Ils, High Priestess," the man bowed. "I should have known better than allowing Gihan to meet my dear guests. I am Kian, and my home is your home."

After the long meeting which resulted mainly in some clarifications and a tiny bunch of compromises, Rhaine returned to her chambers and looked out of the window. The night was dying slowly. Saelbain was hunting somewhere (even a Baatezu needs sustaining) and Nae'Bris was the only shadow behind her back.

"They are trying to waste our time," she finally said. "These offers to move the central office to their capital, these negotiations of making His faith their state religion - this sounds so damn fake."

"Why would they, g-ierre?"

"I would ask you to listen to their talks and find out. Nae'Bris, you're the one I can trust with this. The reports about the situation in this country indicate that they fear barbarian invasion - please find what you can."

"At your service, High Priestess."

"Just be careful, will you?"

The man woke up suddenly, from the feeling of being watched - intently, with icy cold stare fixated on him. Dark blue eyes glowed softly in the darkness. Someone lit a phosphorescent globe. It was the High Priestess herself. She sat comfortably in a deep cushioned armchair, her hands resting on dark burgundy velvet the Duke preferred for his bedroom. Black sleek dress outlined her arms, every curve of her figure, down to her hips embraced by a heavy Y-shaped belt of silver and rubies from where it flowed freely, allowing unconfined move. Wide silver-and ruby trimming of same pattern as belt wound around her wrists, and high around her throat, adding solemn look to this blackness. Thin silver circlet crossing her brow was the final accent, crossing her brow and adding something regal to her finely chiseled, cold face. It was fairly embarrassing - to be half-naked and in bed, in front of fully dressed and official looking woman, with this air of superiority around her. She played on the contrast, and did it well.

"What... are you doing here?" he could hardly speak, his voice rasp from the sleep. "How did you get in?"

"That is irrelevant. Why did you think it was possible to fool us, mon cher?"

"I.. never tried to deceive you."

"Truly? And bargained like hell for obtaining mostly our military assistance? And thought we would not know the motivation? And tried to get away with minimum price? Most of your offers were untrue, were they not? You started with maximum, and after this wished to quote your Constitution which you mentioned but did your best to distract our attention from it?"

"You did a good background check... Priestess".

"I always do. Listen to me, Kian of Ils. Tomorrow the negotiations will continue. The price for our aid will be high, but we will accept nothing less."

"What would you have us to do?"

"As you suggested already, three large temples to Asmodeus, one in each province. However there will be additional conditions. First: freedom of study to dark mages. Second: second child in family of noble blood will belong to the Lord. We will not accept death as sacrifice as you thought in the evening. Life and loyalty are the only worthy offering to Him. Do not expect to wriggle out of this. Your second son will be the first one to begin his path in service of the Lord".

After a walk in the "guest chambers" of the Temple (she didn't wish to call them prison cells, and there was too much comfort there for a prison), Rhaine requested information on the prisoners.

The files on younglings involved in "accidents" were hardly worthy of being called "well structured". This was irritating for Rhaine, but at least these files existed, she reminded herself, before summoning Illad. Wide sleeves of formal-looking dress slid down to her elbows as she cupped her chin while reading. Pale mist over her eyes helped to see the letters she would have otherwise tried to "read" with her fingertips.

"Yes, Illad, come in," her voice was clear as she sensed man's presence beyond a heavy wooden door. They were in the new Temple built to honor Asmodeus in VolkVorn. "Dread and Dominion, Illad."

"Dread and Dominion, High Priestess. How may I serve?"

"These young men that are guests of the Temple now - I would like complete information on their families, not on them only. These kids appear to rely on their parents in questions of getting out of their... visit."

"Gladly, High Priestess. Allow me a day for gathering complete data."

"Excellent," and vampiress again looked into the papers, showing that the conversation was over. Yet she could not resume reading. Illad left to give his agents a good impulse or motivation for hectic activity, guards near the entrance to security level changed - and Rhaine remained frozen, looking into nowhere.

The problem was not with these boys, she thought. All three of them started referring to their fathers kicking the dust out of her as soon as she appeared. Were these fights a coincidence? Or ... more? Or even worse?... She played with the thought of organized plot against the Temple.

It would be a welcome distraction at least.