Page 20 of Seer Prophet

Revik didn’t answer immediately.

Clicking softly, he lifted his own drink, taking several swallows of the blue liquid. He gave the other male a faintly amused look as he lowered his glass back to the stone.

“You think us natural allies, brother?” He quirked a dark eyebrow. “When you have just professed a preference to remain free of the taint of religious ideology? My wife and I are religiousfigures,brother… willingly or not… at least in the Old World traditions of our race. You know such things still mean much out here. Perhaps more so now, with the uncertainty of our future, and the problems both species face.”

Revik paused, letting humor return to his words.

“…You must be religious yourself, brother, to trust us so much,” he joked. “What makes you so sure we would not use this power against the Legion of Fire?”

Dulgar smiled indulgently, in a way that almost made me laugh.

Clearly this guy didn’t see us as much of a threat.

Smiling back, Revik made another diplomatic gesture with one hand.

“Whatever you think of our motives or willingness to treat you fairly,” my husband added. “My wife and I will inevitably be perceived in far more of an ideological manner than this ‘Shadow’ person you seem to fear so much. What makes you think we?or our followers?would not attempt to restrict you in similar ways, given enough control over these waters?”

That thread of indulgence still in his eyes, Dulgar gestured politely, giving me a lingering glance before he focused back on Revik.

“You will pardon me for saying it, Illustrious Sword,” he said smoothly. “But you and your wife appear, currently at least, to have little interest and few means of competing with my family directly in this new world. At least not in the areas that concern us. Moreover…” he added, his voice still polite. “You appear to have no interest in fighting over the same scraps with which the rest of us are primarily concerned. Therefore, I see no conflict between your interests and mine, brother Syrimne. Or between your people and the Legion of Fire.”

Dulgar’s smile widened.

“…And while I may not be religious, myself, I have seen that most will forego religion when it competes directly with their more, ah,basicneeds as men.”

Revik clicked softly. He conceded Dulgar’s words with another graceful gesture.

“True,” he said diplomatically.

“So you see why I might have an interest in remaining… friendly?”

Revik’s smile grew a touch harder.

“Not really, to be truthful.” Revik shrugged, flipping a hand sideways. “I would think us beneath your notice altogether, brother, if what you say is true. Is it simply strength in numbers you seek? The enemy of my enemy…?”

Revik trailed, not bothering to complete the quote.

Dulgar smiled.

That time, it truly touched his eyes.

“Brother Syrimne… again, at the risk of being tactless… I would think my reasoning would be patently obvious.”

At Revik’s silence, Dulgar smiled wider.

“You aretelekinetic,brother Syrimne. A manipulator.” Glancing at me, Dulgar gestured gracefully in my direction. “As is your lovely wife. You are unique, precious beings. That is a powerful means of deterrent for us. If we could claim you as our allies…”

His smile widened with his shrug.

He made another of those flowing gestures.

“…Well, surely you see the advantage for us, to such an arrangement?”

Revik let out a low grunt.

“We will not blow up ships at your whim, brother Dulgar.” He paused to take a sip of the drink. “We will not scout these waters for you, either, acting as living weapons. You must know we have our own interests in Asia.”

Dulgar remained undaunted.

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