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This was certainly new. He'd known for a while now that Abdul was hiding something, but he hadn't expected it to be quite like this.

Perhaps Ettol hadn't been completely full of hot air, after all.

"What do you want?" said Karkash, still not turning around.

"Just a bit of attention," said Abdul. "Is that so much to ask?"

"Careful what you wish for."

Abdul snickered. "Alright, alright. Listen. Think of this little display as an even exchange. I know you're hiding something, pal. So just show me, already. We've been fighting side by side for months now, and yet you haven't let me see what you're really capable of. Don't you see? My curiosity has reached critical mass."

Finally, Karkash turned to look at him. "I don't care."

Abdul's head reared back, and he scoffed. "Oh, come on. What's the big deal? Think I can't keep a secret? We could be a tremendous force together, my friend."

Hmm. Impulsively, he wanted to refuse this fool outright. Abdul was just another game-player. A thrill-seeking simpleton, not unlike Desmond.

But that didn't mean he was useless.

"Then join my sect," said Karkash.

The other man paused, then blinked. Multiple times. "A sect, you say? You've made one?"

"I have."

"Why am I only hearing about it now, then?"

"I have not been promoting it."

"Well, why not? That's kind of important, don't you think? If you want it to grow big and strong, you gotta let people know about it."

"It is to be a lean, elite fighting force. Invitation only."

"Ah... I see. Huh." Abdul was scratching his chin now, apparently thinking about the offer quite seriously all of a sudden.

Karkash hadn't expected that, either, honestly. He'd only thrown it out there because he knew Abdul was powerful enough to qualify, but he hadn't thought the man would give it any real consideration. From what he'd heard, Abdul was already very well off in his current sect with the Gatherers. There were even rumors that he might secretly be their true leader.

Which perhaps explained Abdul's next question. "Would you want me to leave my current sect?"

"No," said Karkash. "But I'm sure you know the difficulty of dividing oneself between sects. In time, you will probably have to choose."

"Mm, I dunno about that. I'm pretty good at multitasking."