Page 2720

~~((Halloween Special - Page 16 of 30))~~
'Well,' said Mevox, 'I'd like to say it's complicated, because that's the way our feelings toward them usually are. But it's not. In this case, I don't think it could be any simpler.'

"You wish to go to their aid?" said the Queen.

'Damn right we do. But we can't.'

Helen nodded.

'What DO you intend to do, then?' asked Mehlsanz.

'We are still rather torn on that point,' said Axiolis. 'But at the moment, we are trying to locate any Sandlords who managed to escape.'

'And how has that been going?'

'Not well,' said Iziol. 'Abolish seems to have moved very swiftly. Right now, it is not even clear if any of the heads of the Hahls made it out. We are hoping that one or more of them will try to make contact with us soon, but they are no doubt dealing with an oppressive communications blackout.'

'I'm confident that many of them did escape,' said Axiolis. 'They are a paranoid sort and would most assuredly have had many contingency plans for exactly this scenario. Whether or not they will actually risk reaching out to us, though--that is a different story.'

"You do not think they would?" asked Helen.

'Not right now, no,' said Axiolis. 'I suspect many are already safely in hiding and feel that the wisest course of action is to wait things out.'

"I see..."

'Not all of us share Ax's optimism,' said Mevox. 'It's difficult to hope for the best when you fear the worst.'

'Have faith, old friend,' said Axiolis. 'You'll see.'

'Is that faith in Lhutwë you're asking me for? Or faith in your best bud, Qorvass?'

'Is it too much to ask for both?'

'Yes.'

'Hmph. Then have faith in how well I know the Sandlords,' said Axiolis.

'I'm just trying to be realistic here. I don't want you getting your hopes up, only to be crushed later when we learn the full truth of things.'

'On the contrary, I'm the one who's being realistic. You're just assuming the worst because you're afraid.'

'Hah. If you say so.'