Laughter, sincere and lacking the subtle danger that had characterized their conversation until now, finally drew an expression to Hadama's stoic face. A brow rose, curious as to the source of the humor, and he turned his head to follow Dorian's gaze to the violet-laced horizon. The moon that had become an island. A place he had come to know better than he would have liked.
Again, the flattery-- or, no, a true compliment, perhaps. Hadama inclined his head slightly in acceptance of it, and acknowledgement of why he had named such a price. Grand, but Dorian himself was not without his grandeur and courtly charm.
But he was not mortal. No matter the body he now wore much like his suit. Even so his power had limits. His reign did not extend to all of the pieces of the Void that had scattered across the world and Hadama considered this for long moments before nodding in slow acceptance.
"Very well. We are capable of removing it ourselves, in time. Your Family, and what grows in the heart of Starfall, however, would be her price." To leave, to cease sowing fresh seeds of chaos and destruction and violet infection. But Dorian's charming smile surfaced again, a sharp fin against blue waters, and Hadama let his emerald gaze rest upon the most dangerous man upon Caido for a long moment.
And then turned his own eyes back to Starfall, his expression and the quiet tone of his voice both contemplative. "Mmn. Perhaps it does not," he said simply. "But our protections grow with each season. Those who resist you grow stronger. Better suited to this conflict. And we now hold the means to remove the Void from your people as well as our own." He turned back to the head of the Family, and only now was the clarity of his gaze lightly troubled.
"Return, and the conflict will resume. Escalate. And the price will be... significant. To both sides." A calm statement of a much colder and less romantic math. An acknowledgment that the Family would take a terrible toll on Caido's warriors before they were through.
But the Family was now vulnerable as well. Singly, they were the more dangerous predators, but Caido had its hunters now, and they did not fight alone. As Dahlia had discovered to her sorrow.
Again, the flattery-- or, no, a true compliment, perhaps. Hadama inclined his head slightly in acceptance of it, and acknowledgement of why he had named such a price. Grand, but Dorian himself was not without his grandeur and courtly charm.
But he was not mortal. No matter the body he now wore much like his suit. Even so his power had limits. His reign did not extend to all of the pieces of the Void that had scattered across the world and Hadama considered this for long moments before nodding in slow acceptance.
"Very well. We are capable of removing it ourselves, in time. Your Family, and what grows in the heart of Starfall, however, would be her price." To leave, to cease sowing fresh seeds of chaos and destruction and violet infection. But Dorian's charming smile surfaced again, a sharp fin against blue waters, and Hadama let his emerald gaze rest upon the most dangerous man upon Caido for a long moment.
And then turned his own eyes back to Starfall, his expression and the quiet tone of his voice both contemplative. "Mmn. Perhaps it does not," he said simply. "But our protections grow with each season. Those who resist you grow stronger. Better suited to this conflict. And we now hold the means to remove the Void from your people as well as our own." He turned back to the head of the Family, and only now was the clarity of his gaze lightly troubled.
"Return, and the conflict will resume. Escalate. And the price will be... significant. To both sides." A calm statement of a much colder and less romantic math. An acknowledgment that the Family would take a terrible toll on Caido's warriors before they were through.
But the Family was now vulnerable as well. Singly, they were the more dangerous predators, but Caido had its hunters now, and they did not fight alone. As Dahlia had discovered to her sorrow.
