Page 44 of The Immortal Covenant

The Infernals turned out to be just as incompetent as he’d expected. Larx was less than a year old while Qurth and Hiliaj had arrived together about two years prior. None had received any formal training beyond the bare minimum required to conjure duskflame, and though they’d participated in closing several gates, they’d served as little more than fodder to distract the voidspawn while more experienced warriors did the real fighting.

That admission stoked a cold anger in Malorg. Perhaps he should have taken Pelorak up on his previous offer to oversee the new arrivals after all. No Immortal should be left so ill-preparedto uphold the Covenant, regardless of how pointless such duty turned out to be.

As it was, Malorg offered what advice he could, correcting their poor form and pointing out the (many) areas in which they needed improvement. The experience stuck with him, dogging his mind even after they’d parted ways and he’d returned alone to Twilight. Those thoughts bled into his earlier preoccupation with Sarilian and the Accords until he could think of little else.

For centuries now, Malorg had accepted the fundamental truth that the Covenant was pointless, the Void’s eventual victory all but assured. After today, however, he discovered a faint glimmer of hope coruscating in his chest. Maybe Sarilian had been right—maybe they really could accomplish the impossible after all.

eighteen

Sarilian

Sarilian entered the conferenceroom cautiously optimistic for the first time since the Accords had begun. While the meeting last week hadn’t led to any grand decisions, it had seemed a step in the right direction. Even Darius and Faeris had admitted as much during their return trip to Daybreak. If he and Malorg could build upon that rapport today, they had a genuine chance at real progress.

As he settled into his seat, studying Malorg and the other Infernal delegates across the table, he strove to temper his expectations. One cordial encounter didn’t mean that the lingering tension between him and Malorg had been resolved or that any goodwill would last. Best to be prepared for anything.

Malorg glanced up, a furrow gouging his brow like a shadowed vale as their eyes met. Sarilian muffled a sudden urge to press the lines away with his fingertips.

“Good,” Malorg said. “You’ve arrived. I thought we’d begin today by revisiting our discussion from two weeks ago.”

Sarilian blinked once. Twice. To his left, Faeris seemed ready for a repeat of the past couple weeks, her posture resigned. Darius, however, gave Malorg a considering look.He must have sensed the same change I did.

Even more than last time, Malorg seemed engaged, his face eager rather than an emotionless mask. A faint flicker of hope coiled through Sarilian. Maybe the change he’d witnessed in Malorg last week wouldn’t prove as fleeting as he’d feared.

Still, Sarilian kept his face carefully polite, his voice neutral as he said, “As I recall, two sessions ago we had amilddisagreement over how to handle Celestials assisting with patrols in the Dusklands.” When Malorg gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, Sarilian continued, his voice gaining a cautious edge. “While I’m happy to revisit the subject, I stand by what I said. Despite my careless choice of words, the strain of remaining within the Dusklands for an extended period cannot be ignored. Any arrangement would need to account for this.”

“I agree. That is why I propose that joint squads comprised of Celestials and Infernals split their patrols between the Dawnlands and Dusklands. That should allow both sides an opportunity to recharge their magic as well as offset any potential discomfort.”

Time seemed to stand still, a lengthy pause stretching between them as a hush fell over the chamber. That was a far more reasonable response than any Malorg had given in the past. Though, it still left Sarilian with questions.

“You would permit Infernals to patrol in the Dawnlands?” he asked, recovering.

“I would.” A faint grin passed over Malorg’s pallid face, barely more than a quirk of his lips. “Let both our kind suffer the other’scorruptionin equal measure.”

Had that been ajoke?Sarilian was pretty sure it had, or at least an attempt at one. He felt like he’d stumbled into an alternatedimension. Where was the bitter, jaded Infernal of the past month? The one who could barely look at him without wanting to pick a fight? Polite discourse was one thing, but this Malorg seemed like an entirely different person.

I suppose we needed that conversation even more desperately than I thought.

Whatever the source of Malorg’s good cheer, Sarilian would gladly take advantage of it as long as it lasted. “That does indeed seem fair.” He hesitated, wary for the other shoe to drop or for the trap to reveal itself. “Half of a patrol cycle spent in each?”

Malorg frowned. “Given the current voidspawn threat to the Dusklands, it seems as if the greater portion of the patrol should be spent there.”

Ah, here we go. With an internal sigh, Sarilian braced himself for a fight. “And yet, a greater portion ofoursoldiers will comprise each squad. They’ll require adequate time to recharge their dawnflame, especially if they are to bear the brunt of the fighting.”

Fresh surprise thrummed through him when Malorg didn’t instantly object. Instead, the Infernal tapped a finger against his chin, seeming to consider. Sarilian found his gaze glued to that little digit, an unwelcome jolt zinging across his skin.

“Fair,” Malorg said. Another hint of a smile, there and then gone in an instant. “I’m pleased to hear you are so amenable to our earlier proposal concerning joint squads. We’ll need to iron out the precise ratio of Celestials to Infernals later. However, your current point about a greater Celestial presence required in the Dusklands only strengthens the need for them to spend more time here to better acclimate to our magic.”

Beside Sarilian, Faeris scoffed. “As if any servant of the Light could ever feel comfortable in this accursed Dark.”

Merciful Light!Sarilian winced, readying himself for Malorg to shut down or retaliate.

Malorg did neither, glancing at Faeris and raising an eyebrow. “But you do.”

Faeris’ eyes narrowed to slits. “Impossible!”

“Oh?” Malorg gave a pointed look to the air above Faeris’ head. “Then tell me, where is your precious Light, Celestial?”

Faeris opened her mouth to retort, then slowly shut it.

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