Page 37 of The Immortal Covenant

“Emissary,” Malorg said, his voice coolly detached. “If you are ready, let us begin.”

Sarilian blinked, taken aback by the lack of pleasantries. He’d thought…well, he wasn’t entirely sure. But as he settled back in his seat, he supposed the lack of a warm welcome shouldn’t surprise him. Not after how they’d left things.

Maybe later, he’d get a chance to talk to Malorg in private and smooth things over. Until then, if Malorg wanted to keep things strictly professional, even brusque, all the better. It would help maintain their cover.

“Very well,” Sarilian said. “As you know, we are here at the Dusk Council’s request to discuss terms for a revised Covenant between Celestials and Infernals.” He gestured to Darius. “On behalf of the Aspect of Justice and the rest of the Dawn Council, I would like to extend our gratitude for this chance to visit your fair city, as well as your openness to reconciliation—even if itdoes come during a time of grave peril. Together, I have no doubt we can reach an amicable arrangement beneficial to both sides so that we may face this latest voidspawn threat united in harmony.”

Sarilian paused for dramatic effect, glancing over at Darius to catch his subtle nod of approval. They had worked and reworked that opening speech countless times over the preceding days to ensure it conveyed an appropriate degree of support without making them appear too weak.

As he waited for Malorg’s response, however, doubt oozed through him like a thick layer of sludge. The Infernal delegation showed no reaction at all to his words, not even the flicker of a smile. Malorg simply stared, his expression unreadable.

Swallowing, Sarilian continued. “Toward that end, I have prepared a series of talking points that represent the Dawn Council’s primary concerns. If it pleases the Dusk Emissary, I propose we begin there to ease into what promises to be a fruitful discussion.”

Again, no response.

Annoyance flared around the edges of Sarilian’s nerves.What is Malorg doing?The Infernal must know enough about politics to realize the impression his stony silence would convey to the rest of the Celestial delegation.

Indeed, Sarilian could already hear the disapproving murmurs from the guards and sense Darius’ rising tension. The Dawn Council might be magnanimous, but even they wouldn’t commit to talks they believed a waste of time.

If Sarilian wasn’t careful, these negotiations might collapse before they’d even begun.

He tightened his jaw. “I take that as a yes,” he said dryly. “First, we feel it important to clarify that we view any proposed alliance as a partnership between equals. Thus, while we are happy to offer our aid against any present or future voidspawnthreat, we would expect the Dusk Council to respond in turn: an equal exchange for an equal exchange. It is only fair.”

To Sarilian’s astonishment, Malorg instantly shook his head. “Impossible. Our estimates place your numbers at nearly three times our own, with a higher percentage of them dedicated to combat. Should we be required to match that contribution, we’d need to dedicate a far greater portion of our population. Equal, perhaps, but hardlyfair.If you have three times as many soldiers, then you should field three times as many in each battle.”

The whispers around Sarilian intensified. His temples throbbed with the beginnings of a headache as he struggled to rein in his growing frustration. “With all due respect, Emissary, it sounds like you are asking us to risk three Celestial lives for every one Infernal while fighting against voidspawn within yourownterritory.”

Malorg raised a brow. “With all due respect toyou,Emissary, did you not just espouse your commitment to facing this threat in ‘united harmony’? Or was all that talk about defending the realm little more than empty rhetoric?”

Darius shifted beside Sarilian like he wanted to leap to his feet in protest. Sarilian had to fight down the same impulse. This was absurd! The Dusk Council couldn’t honestly expect the Celestials to entertain so ludicrous a notion.

This first point was supposed to be easy—a good segue into more difficult topics like logistics or how to navigate clashing cultures. Yet, Malorg was already proving stubbornly intractable.

Sarilian expelled his breath, pressing his lips together in an approximation of a smile. “The Dawn Council does not make it a habit to lie, Emissary.” He left the implied corollary unsaid, though he took a certain satisfaction from the irritation that flashed across Malorg’s face. “Nevertheless, we can return to thispoint later. Can we at least agree that any alliance will require some method of integrating our forces?”

Malorg gave a reluctant nod.

“Then, perhaps it is best to move on and discuss some of our other main concerns.”

The next several hours passed in a frustrating blur. Sarilian carefully outlined everything Darius and he had considered, from potential training arrangements to cultural exchanges to the sharing of tactics and supplies. And each time, Malorg met him with nothing but obstruction.

So far as Sarilian could glean, the Dusk Councilhadno set agenda, or if it did, Malorg had tossed it out the window. It was almost as if his sole goal was to provoke Sarilian as much as possible.

“I think it best we conclude the Accords for today,” Sarilian said. His head throbbed from how tightly he’d been clenching his jaw. “Clearly, we both need more time to reassess our current priorities.”

“Clearly,” Malorg replied. “Hopefully, next time you’ll return with a better plan.”

Sarilian stared after the departing Infernal as he rose and slipped out the doors. HowdareMalorg question their planning when he outright refused to suggest his own alternatives!

Ignoring Darius’s shout, Sarilian barreled past the other Infernal delegates and a startled pair of guards out into the hall. A flash of movement to the left guided him, and he rushed forward, rounding a corner and running straight into Malorg.

For an instant, they stood pressed against each other, Sarilian’s hand on Malorg’s chest. Both of them froze, the only sound in the near darkness their heavy breaths. Then, reason reasserted itself, and Sarilian stepped back, crossing his arms with a glare.

“What the Merciful Lightwasthat in there, Mal? Do you want these Accords to fail?”

Malorg loomed over him, elongated shadows making him seem taller than he really was. “Don’t call me that,” he growled. “And I was only following my orders from the Dusk Council. It’s not my fault that your proposals need work.”

“This had nothing to do with the Dusk Council or my proposals!” Sarilian’s dawnflame lantern flared brighter as he set his shoulders. “You’re angry, and you’re taking it out on me.”

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