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"I doubt it will be that easy," said Parson, standing to his feet again. "The Archivers have a long memory. They're reapers, after all. They'll remember our last visit perfectly. And when they see that we've returned, asking similar questions again, they'll be instantly suspicious of us. And if they have anything to hide, they'll work doubly so to make sure we never find it."

"So we don't go to Luugh, then," said Damian. "Or at least, not first."

"I'm sure the different groups talk to each other," said Parson. "But yes, that is probably wise. We should start with some other target, one that is less likely to turn into a fight."

'Archivers are not fighters,' said Feromas.

'So they say,' said Overra. 'But even if that's really true, there are other ways of combating one's enemies besides martial strength. As we've again just witnessed, no?'

'True,' acknowledged the other reaper. 'Moreover, we don't yet know who all is trustworthy. If the rest of them are as deceptive as this Ettol was, then there's no telling how many other people might be unknowingly compromised by their influence. In my opinion, the only ones we can trust right now--at least on this matter--are the four of us here in this room.'

Damian huffed. "Are you even sure of that much? It would seem we've all been unknowingly compromised before. Who's to say that's not still the case, somehow?"

An uncomfortable silence arrived as everyone looked at each other.

Parson was the one to break it. "Jonah. He's the one to say. He gave his life and left us that message so that we might have this opportunity now." Parson paused for someone to respond but when no one did, he kept going. "Jonah saw everything. He knew all of us. Understood us. And he knew the enemy as well. Knew the hold they had over us. And he still didn't give up on us. Even though maybe he should have."

'What are you saying?' said Overra. 'He should have abandoned us as Ettol's puppets?'

"It would've been the much easier path for him," said Parson. "He might still be alive, right now. In fact, he probably would be."

Damian nodded.

Parson went on. "If Jonah approved of us working together, then Feromas is right. The four of us here can trust each other. None of us are compromised."

'It may be a stretch to say that I trust Overra, though.'

'Hmph, right back at you.'