Liron licked his lips. They had dried up. As had his throat and his heart. "I agree with you on one front. You need the Qilesh."
Adenius giggled to himself. "My, ignoring all I have said just like that. A lot of passion went into that one, but alas. Yes, we do need them. They are so easy to hate. One of your companions is one of them. Your Xenrus has to be one of those that claim to be peaceful. I hope you're not falling for its lies.
"It's a Fleshdancer. Their words can't be trusted. All they do is devour and consume. They were made for little else. And it shows itself in their alien appearance. Your Xenrus might sing sweet tunes about its lofty ideals, but they are nothing but a subtler weapon on a silent front in our great war."
"You think Zonis will betray me?"
"Don't give it a name," Adenius said, waving away what Liron said like a stinking fart.
"It didn't give him a name. Zonis is no mindless beast. He was given one by his parents… I think."
"Of course it is. Liron, you are still so very young. You have yet to see the Qilesh's true nature. They are shapeshifters, but they can never truly transform into what they are mimicking. It might claim to have a name, even a sex, but it's nothing but the strategy of a persistent hunter.
"And a nasty one at that. It lies hiding near its prey, letting them grow fat, and making them believe that it is different from its monstrous kin. I hope you can see the Qilesh armies before you die. Once you see them fight, their instincts laid bare, you will understand why these creatures can't be trusted. The stronger one gets, their intellect will improve, but they are enslaved to their endless hunger the Silver Moon has cursed them with. If you find the grace in your heart, you can pity them, for they can never hide what they are. Their Fleshdacning is nothing but a reminder for all they can never be."
"And yet you love 'em."
"Love is a strong word, Liron. I appreciate them. Like I said, they are easy to hate. That has tremendous value in our war. But I have monologued for far too long. You owe me some answers too. Let me pry into your mind, too. You asked me what comes after. I didn't answer it, for I don't know. But what's the matter with you? What comes after once the Resistance has won?"
Liron knew this was coming since he had asked Adenius. "I have no fuckin' idea. Truth be told, you and the Qyoral keep each other at bay. A victory for us would mean takin' you guys out without Xeras stompin' us into the ground. Either we need to defeat 'em first and then you or both at the same time."
"Which would be impossible. As always with your scenarios."
"I was not finished. Please, show some decorum."
Adenius raised his hands in defeat. "I'm deeply sorry. The wine is speakin' out of me," he said, filling his glass again. "Please, continue."
Liron cleared his throat. "So, yeah, rather unlikely to gut both of you. I think the best route is to defeat the Qyoral first and then you. As you've pointed out already, you aren't meant to live without your lover, so you would crumble without us doing much. And once you're defeated, the Resistance takes over."
"The Resistance," Adenius scoffed. "You mean Ashburn. Elisabeth Ashburn and her brood just want what their ancestors lost to Casar. They wouldn't change anything. They only want to see the Empire under a new banner."
Adenius emptied his glass in one go, revealing hints of his chin to Liron. Flawless skin. He was altered by an Alchemist. He hammered the glass down, nearly breaking it. The alcohol showed its effect on him, loosening the strange man further. But while he wavered, the mind remained as sharp as the Emperor's blade.
"You're still so young, Liron. So much potential, but your naivety is shocking. Elisabeth has no greater plan beyond her dictatorship. What kind of empire does she want to build? Do you know? How does she want to handle the economy? Will she reallocate the wealth to the plebs? Does she want to keep the other Sacred Houses? Who will take a powerful position in her empire? Does she plan to offer education to all?
"Wake up, Liron. There is no greater alternative prepared by anyone. No one knows the answers. Do you think if anyone had a better idea that no one else would have found it, too? No matter how hard we try, there is no greater dawn that will free us of this nightmare. Magic can level mountains and turn man into gods, but it can't create a system that will be fair to all. You're still blinded by power and how grand this world can be. But it offers you nothing but the chance to dominate others. Perhaps that's what you want, though."
Liron had grown tired of listening. This should suffice.
He leaned forward, smiling. "You have a good read on my brother," Emma said.
She dismissed her Conduit, ceasing her illusion. Adenius froze in the midst of filling his glass yet again. It took him a moment to regain his composure. "My, now this is something," he said with awe.
He turned his head, giggling as he studied the figure sitting at the table behind him. He had sat down right after the Inquisitor had entered. Emma dismissed his illusion, too, panting as she did. She hadn't trained enough with her Conduit yet. She had altered her brother's appearance slightly, changing his hair color and smaller facial features. Enough to hide him in plain sight and small enough to keep up for a longer period of time.
Liron stood up and sat down next to Adenius. He leaned in close, pushing away the Inquisitor's wine glass. "Listen closely. From now on, you will follow a clear plan. You will do nothing while we're still on Janloo. Get drunk and piss yourself for all I care. But you won't talk to anyone and keep to yourself.
"Once we're in Sannara, you will let us leave and give us a good head start. From there on, you can do what you want. Gather whatever rags you can and come for us. Then we can finish this hunt once and for all."
Adenius' eyes lingered on the wine glass outside his reach. "And what if I don't follow your commands?"
"You've been talkin' to my sister the entire time, and we both know you didn't notice. You can try to play your little mind games with us, but they won't work. And even if you did realize, others won't. If you don't do as you've been told, Emma will fake my death, forcin' you to return to the Empire."
"And why should this work? I had guessed so already, but you have shown me that your sister's magic is based around illusion. I would just need to report on her abilities to ensure my continuous hunt. You're not the first Wizard to specialize in deception, Emma. We have encountered your kind before, and we have prevailed."
"You could do that," Liron said. "This might even work, but would it if Military learns of Kupferrang?"
Adenius froze again. Before the Inquisitor could say anything, Liron continued. "You said yourself that the Inquisition and Military hate each other. They already suspect something horrible must have happened. So, what do you think happens when they see proof for their suspicion combined with my early death? Especially if the report comes from Janloo itself?
"They might suspect that something isn't addin' up. They might believe you about my sister and think that they are gettin' fucked with. But they won't be certain because they don't trust you. There is no one they really trust. Again, you said so yourself. The Empire is built on hate, and it's not reserved for my friends alone. They will call you back, and this allows us enough time to escape your grasp for good."
Adenius chuckled, resting his head on his folded hands. "You two are already good rebels. You have played me. This round goes to you two. I'm too drunk to fight this. But I need to know. You want to finish our hunt?"
"You're a fuckin' monster," Liron spat. "No chance I'll let you live. You're a real threat to all whom I care for. You gave my sister your read on me, so let me return the favor. You freak want to climb the leader and become Grand Inquisitor. You want your hunts on the biggest scale possible. But for this, you need fame. You don't just need my head, but you need to win it in the grandest fashion imaginable.
"You lied to Emma. You do have a plan, and it leads to Sannara. But it won't allow it. I will put an end to your schemes."
"And you need me," Adenius said. "The Resistance has paid dearly for you. You need to prove your value, and what better way to do this than to kill me, my forces, and my fabulous creation? After all, I'm a great threat to the Resistance."
Liron's jaw tightened up. "Yeah. I need you to die to save my ass, but that's not the real reason. You wanna know why you will die? 'Cause you killed our parents and destroyed an entire city for your sick game."
Liron grabbed Adenius by his collar, pulling him close. Emma tensed up, but no violence followed. "You said knowledge is a sickness," he whispered into the Inquisitor's ear. "That it will stick to you like flies to shit. So, here is my bit of knowledge for you. You will die. I will carve you up from head to toe. I will burn your insides with my ember and listen to your screams before I rip your tongue out. Sannara will remember your tears for years to come. Your life will become nothing but pain, and I hope you will know every fuckin' second that you deserve your fate and worse."
Liron and Emma stood up, leaving Adenius behind. The Inquisitor pulled his wine glass close, staring into his reflection. "The Draconist On Narrian Bell is after you," he said, causing both to pause. "The People's Blade has sworn to put you to justice. Of all the people who were after you, she is the most dangerous one. I'm supposed to inform her of your location once we land in Sannara.
"I will lie to her and give her the wrong directions. She won't be fooled for too long, but it will give us long enough to finish this hunt."
Adeniu emptied the glass and continued with the bottle, finishing it like a man dying of thirst. As he slammed it back onto the table, breaking it, as he now thirsted for something else. "You have eclipsed my expectations, Liron. And you, too, Emma. I can't wait for this to end in blood and murder. You will be the one to help me ascend.
"And as you have nestled such warming promises into my ear, let me repay you. I won't kill either of you. I will turn you into my personal Sinners, and then, your family will be united once again. This is my gift to you, Ravenson."