Cafe'.....
Anabstercorian and Forrester look at each other across the table. It's a little different from their earlier meetings. Now, the legend of Anabstercorian has grown. The waiters tremble as they pass the two warriors, shaking in their boots.
Anabstercorian glares at Forrester... his eyes are dark, narrow. He is dressed in full combat regalia, which is a new thing. The look on his face is unmistakable. Anger.
<< Give me back the True Staff. >>
"I don't trust you with that kind of power, Anabstercorian. You'll have to give me a damn good reason to even consider it."
<< Give it back. I need it. I cannot live without it. It is a part of me now. I lust after it like you lust after your elven concubine, and without it I will sink in to despair and madness until... >> He trailed off. << Give it back. Or I will take it. >>
Forrester takes a sip of wine, and chuckles softly. Briefly, there is a whiff of nervousness about him -- much to his chagrin. But he recovers quickly.
"I like your new look. It flatters your pale skin."
"Let me think about this for a moment, 'old friend'."
"Anabstercorian *without* the staff . . . didn't kill five million."
"Anabstercorian *with* the staff . . . did kill five million."
"Anabstercorian *before* the staff . . . not an ally of the Shade."
"Anabstercorian *after* the staff . . . an ally of the Shade."
"I'm sure you can understand my . . . reluctance . . . to give you back the True Staff of Penumbra, Anabster. I hope it doesn't jeopardize your relationship with Ilsesine. But there are quite a large number of people a bit upset with me at the moment. They say that I should "take you in". They say that you are MY responsibility, because I lead the forces of the UC, and you were originally the UC's "problem". I laugh them off, and say that you are clearly too powerful a force to be contained -- at least, when you are on another world."
<< You overestimate my strength, Forrester - But you flatter me. Do go
on. >>
"The UC has no intention of becoming further involved in this Oerthian mess. But our spies tell us that you have allied yourself with our Torillian foe, the Shade. You and I both know that he's an idiot, and you only plan on allying with him so far as you can use him, but the appearance of impropriety, and the danger that you could help him against us, however temporarily . . . It cannot be ignored."
"Because the danger that the Elder Ones might someday come to Oerth cannot be ignored."
"I am sorry, Anabster. There is nothing I can do. I will tell you this much -- the Staff is currently in a safe place. A very, very, very safe place. I *personally* have taken extraordinary measures to guard it. My best Kender thieves couldn't get to the Staff, Anabster. And neither can you.
"After this is all over, and the Shade and Acererak and the Black Brotherhood and the rest are no longer a threat, we can talk. Until then, you shall have to survive with being merely the most powerful psionicist in the multiverse. Because you ain't getting the Staff back."
He paused for a moment as Anabstercorian seethed, letting him consider lashing out in anger for a moment before continuing.
"Not, at least, without doing the UC a favor so huge, I'm not even sure what might be sufficient . . ."
Forrester looks up at the waiter -- who is, of course, shaking like a bowl of jelly. He puts a plate down on the table, and scurries away.
"Ah! They've brought the calamari. No offense, but this is definitely their finest appetizer . . . "
Anabstecorian chuckles a bit. << I wouldn't know. I can't chew - Why else do you think I enjoy their fondue so much? It's as creamy as elven forebrain. >>
Forrester nods. "What does that taste like? Only part I haven't eaten, I think."
<< Very light, and very sweet.>> Then he shields his mind from your scrying, and Forresters. He transmits a thought and Forrester almost chokes on his dinner.
Forrester hesitated. "The entire organization?"
<< Every last
ing one. I will even personally rape every one of them for you if you like. >>
Forrester, grudgingly, began to speak. "We may have a chicken/egg problem here. If you can destroy them --
every last
ing one -- then that would be sufficient payback, I think.
But it's damn tough to do . . . I wish you luck, old foe . . . but you cannot have the Staff back to help you in your endeavor. You must complete this task first."
<< So if I complete this task I have offered, you will return the Staff to me? >>
Forrester looked a little... nervous. "Conceivably, yes... If it could be arranged."
<< Good. Know this - I will do what I have offered. If you do not hold up to your end of the bargain, I will crush your mind like a beetle and throw your body in to the depths of Baator. >> He vanished.
(Edena, I live in San Antonio, Texas.)
