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“Unfortunately,” said Rasalased, “I believe my sister is right about you not being trustworthy.”

“Ouch!”

“However, if you were to fulfill your end of a bargain first, then your trustworthiness would be a non-factor.”

“Oh? Hmm. But that’d mean opening myself up to being easily betrayed by you, instead.”

“It would, yes,” said Rasalased. “But that is the price you must pay for being of such ill-repute. Perhaps if you had lived your life more forthrightly, then you would be able to enjoy the accompanying privileges.”

“Mm, I both resent and doubt that. People are way too untrusting in general for someone to be given the benefit of the doubt with any sort of regularity.” He gave a shrug. “But anywho, lemme hear what else you wanted to ask. Sounds like there might be room to negotiate for Asad and Qorvass’ lives, depending on how the rest of this conversation goes.”

“Very well,” said the Dry God. “Next, I wish to ask about your experiences with other realms. Have you visited any of them?”

Morgunov pursed his lips, thinking. That was a tough one to answer, actually. “Visited? Uh... hmm. What counts as visiting? Because I’ve definitely done a bit of otherworldly traveling in my day, but such events for me have always been more... ‘out-of-body experiences’ than anything.”

“I see. So your corporeal form has always remained here, in this realm?”

“That’s right,” said Morgunov. “I know a guy who had a more involved experience like what you’re talking about, but sadly, he’s too terrified of me and keeps running away before I can have a proper conversation about it. Real slippery bugger, that one.”

“So you are saying that your experience is comparatively limited, then?”

“I suppose so. It’s a subject I’m interested in, though. Just haven’t gotten back around to researching it in a long while. I like to save certain things for later, know what I mean? Always gotta keep another project or two lined up, for whenever the current one finishes. Lemme tell ya, I absolutely hate having nothing interesting to do. Start to get a bit antsy and stir-crazy, which tends to make me lash out. In fact, Bool used to try and make me bored all the time ‘cuz of that. He likes it when I go out and make trouble for folks. He hasn’t attempted that in a while, though, probably because he knows that I’ve got too many backup projects in mind, right now. Lost cause for him, at the moment.”

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Morgunov smacked his lips. “I dunno... that’s a pretty big ask.” It wasn’t, really. At this point, he had no further use for Asad or Qorvass, but they didn’t need to know that.

Plus, he always liked leaving the door open for a senseless murder. Never knew when something like that might come in handy. Hostages? Venting frustration? Silly experiments? There were all sorts of ways to make use of things that had otherwise outlived their usefulness. Who didn’t love a bit of recycling?

“I do not believe it is,” said the sister. “Now that you have met us, you have no need of them any longer.”

Dang it. “You don’t know that,” said Morgunov. “I’ve got all sorts of needs. And besides, the mere fact that you two care about them so much means that they’re useful to me as leverage. So if you want ‘em safe or even free, then maybe we can come to an agreement of some sort. I’m a reasonable fellow, despite what you might’ve heard about me.”

“More lies,” she said. “You only keep your word when it is convenient for you. Your overconfidence in your own power makes you have no qualms about betraying others. Any agreement made with you would have no weight or sense behind it.”

“So harsh. I’ll have you know that I keep my word for plenty of other reasons besides mere convenience. For instance, sometimes it’s just funny. To see the surprised looks on people’s faces, I mean. And heck, other times I keep it because I’m real mad. Tell me, what is convenient about hunting someone to the ends of Eleg for decades? Hmm? The convenient thing to do would be to forgive and forget! But no. If I give my word that I’ll kill someone, then I do it, no matter how long it takes!” He paused. “Unless, maybe, they come up with a really good apology. Then I might change my mind. But that’s not going back on my word! That’s making a new promise!”

“You lie even to yourself,” she said. “Rationalization masked as reason. You cannot tell when others see through you, because you cannot even see through yourself.”

“You’re not very fun to talk to, y’know that?”

“A spoiled child never enjoys being scolded.”

He sniffed. “What about you, Mr. Salad? What say you about striking a deal with me?”

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“Aha. Concerned about him, are you? I suppose that’s only natural.” Morgunov paused. “Still a bit surprising, though, now that I’m thinking about it. I mean, do you really care about the little Lion? Or are you just going through the motions, ‘cuz of your sense of duty?”

“Of course I care,” said Rasalased. “Why would you say that?”

“Oh, c’mon. You’re a god now, aren’tcha? You’re above such base, mortal concerns, surely! Aren’t you much more interested in the big picture, hmm? Things that we on this plane of existence can barely even glimpse, let alone comprehend?”

Rasalased made no response.

Oho? Had he unexpectedly hit the mark, Morgunov wondered? Truthfully, he’d just been saying stuff, rambling with whatever came into his head. Usually, when he did that, he discovered all sorts of new ways to piss people off.

Ehehe. Perhaps this “Dry God” was even more full of surprises than he’d hoped.

The still-nameless sister chimed in again. “You will not be harming Asad Najir any more than you already have, Little Fool.”

Morgunov giggled. “Ooh, that sounds like a threat. I admire your confidence. Unless it turns out to be arrogance, of course. Ehehe.”

This was music to his ears. Even though it was quite likely that this lady had simply been lying about being a Primordial in order to intimidate him, it would be absolutely perfect if she’d been telling the truth.

The fact was, he didn’t want a pet god like Rasalased. Someone amicable and courteous from the outset? No, no. He wanted someone mean. Someone egotistical.

Someone whose spirit he’d be able to take great joy in breaking.

Because after all, once that was done, courtesy and amicability could be taught. In fact, that’d probably be the most fun part.

She, however, did not immediately respond. Despite her rudeness, perhaps she still wanted to be careful with her words here.

Morgunov hoped not. That sounded boring.

Instead, Rasalased was the next to speak. “If you harm the Lion further, you will not find us cooperative with whatever it is that you want.”

“That’s one way of looking at it, sure,” said Morgunov, “but I could also pose the opposite perspective. If you don’t cooperate, then your sandy boy won’t be having a very good time in my custody.”

“Either way, the result is the same,” said Rasalased. “You must leave him be. In fact, releasing him and his reaper would be best.”