>>6116791“A shame that such a soul has fallen to the clutches of Ansàrra,” the Stilladìa notes, coiling a strand of black hair around her pale finger as she taps her other fingers over Sandora’s notes. “It’s such a sad thing to waste, a soul. I’m sure you agree.”
“I do.” No hesitation.
That’s the way with her Patron. No bullshitting. No ifs and buts. Clear and cut.
And no taking back your word. Argia feels the weight of her temptations sink its hooked talons onto her back, and scraping, scraping all the way down to her coiled stomach.
<span class="mu-i">She knows.</span>
“Perhaps,” the Stilladìa counters. A pause, then— “Does the name Mouk Zelas says anything to you?”
“No.”
“No indeed. I made sure of it. He used to be an infamous sorcerer. An Asterite of unspeakable power, one of the last few great ones. Of course, he struck a deal with me.” She leans back, exposing her slight chest and Argia spots something squirming in her lap. Something furry and malformed, something that squeals and wails. “Back then I was but a youngster, mind you! This was when I was dealing with Aghriman, Bradiamante, and my gracefully-enforced liberalisation of Silt trade. It was when I truly put my hooks into the Throne. A fun story for another time… what matters to us, tonight, is that Mouk Zelas did try to walk back on his deal with me.”
Argia gulps. She tries not to, but time is dead, and the only thing before her is her Patron, and she can almost see her coiling the strings she holds over her soul just like she coils her white hair around her finger.
“You are telling me this because he did not manage to do so.” Of course. A warning.
But the Stilladìa shakes her head.
“Argia dearest. I am telling you this because he did find a way around it.” She scoffs. “The slimy bastard. A tiny loophole, which I have long-since patched, mind you.”
No doubts about that.
“He was smart and resourceful, just like you. And I liked him. Just like you.”
And there is yet another part to this, which teeters on the precipice. Argia’s patron wants it to be her the one to ask it.
“What happened to him?”
[cont.]
