â€œHis ability to hold up a relatively flimsy merfolk like myself hardly constituted any impressive maneuver.â€ Koralheim spoke, his voice in both his companionsâ€™ minds. He hefted a considerable sack of gold pieces â€œHalf up front then, old friend?â€<br/><br/>Edric took the bag and felt its weight in his hands for a moment before pocketing it somewhere within his cloak, smiling in spite of himself.<br/><br/>"You might want to check the backlog if we're going to be traveling far. A few of your enemies have been careless about keeping their identities hidden."<br/><br/>â€œI do appreciate that you keep a record; it always makes for good fun and a strong negotiating position when we encounter my colleagues. Do you have a suggested location? Otherwise Iâ€™m quite partial to Rez by way of Lady Rashaâ€™s caravan. I doubt either of those options offends you in a manner more than I have come to expect.â€ Koralheim asked amicably.<br/><br/>"Ah, well, we can all rest assured that since you have<span style="font-style: italic">predicted</span>my offense, it has therefore lost all meaning. We can visit Rez if you're more partial to killing your fellow Artificiers, but there have also been some very upset merchants in Goldsands as of late. Been doing business there recently?"<br/><br/>Koralheim found either option agreeable, though he suspected that Edric might not be fond of the fact that there was yet another secret underneath Rez that Koralheim had yet to reveal. â€œIt would seem, friend, that Razorplains has fallen to a conqueror, or, rather, might soon fall. Intervention at this point is impractical; we could not divert an army without supplies. Further yet, the Fifth is coming back.â€ Koralheim listed. â€œI mentioned the angels, yes? Thought you might want to be up to snuff on what will be trying to kill us. At least Iâ€™ve struck an accord with the church for the moment.â€<br/><br/>"Yes, I received your letter, but-" Edric paused, an incredulous look forming across his face. "The Fifth. No, you're lying to me."<br/><br/>Koralheim stared as plainly as usual to any passerby, but for someone who had the potentially unfortunate knowledge of how the merfolk tended to communicate more through subtlety of motion than telepathy that stare conveyed the simplicity of their business relationship: Koralheim did not lie, but he would keep secrets. â€œThere are preparations to be made.â€<br/><br/>"Listen to me. I would happily kill one hundred men for you in a single day, and it would not trouble my thoughts for an instant. I would burn villages, torture families, poison wells... but I will<span style="font-style: italic">never</span>die for your cause. I am not a man of honor, and I cannot kill a walking legend. You will not pay me to die upon the Fifth's sword."<br/><br/>Koralheimâ€™s laughter was light and youthful in his companionsâ€™ minds. â€œThough Kala here might desire otherwise, my friend, if anyone dies by that legendary blade it will be me. Iâ€™m sure youâ€™ll be positively beside yourself. Fear not, though; Iâ€™ve left you quite an inheretence; Iâ€™ve no heir, and I certainly figure you would enjoy the extensive list of contracts Iâ€™ve got tucked away with my will.â€ Koralheim teased. â€œAfter all, I couldnâ€™t just give you money for free; thatâ€™s bad business. No, Kala is here to learn from me in return for protection, and I only expect protection up until that point. What happens when the Fifth arrives will happen regardless. I expect my death will be necessary, but who knows? I do tend to surprise you with unpleasant news.â€<br/><br/>Koralheim absently rubbed over the gash on his back. â€œWhat could be more unpleasant than learning I was still alive when by all means I ought to be dead?â€<br/><br/>"Learning it before I could collect a lifetime's worth of active bounties comes to mind."<br/><br/>â€œWell Iâ€™ll be sure to meet a fortunate end rather quickly; I dare not inconvenience a friend further than is necessary.â€ Koralheim explained â€œSo are we agreed then? If so Iâ€™d much like to depart soon; Iâ€™ve not quite decided if we ought to take Pete with us.â€<br/><br/>"I'll need to acquire some things... would one of your contacts possess something vile enough to kill an angel? I'm not fond of the more traditional methods."<br/><br/>"Oh, I imagine so. I could perhaps build something, or maybe Sven can help in such an endeavor." Koralheim suggested. "With any luck we won't need such extraneous preparations."<br/><br/>"I don't make a habit of trusting my life to fickle things like luck. I'd much rather have weapons - or poisons - that will work against whatever wants me dead."<br/><br/>"Well that is something we agree on, then; more powerful weapons will serve us well; that is why we should not squander a potential resource until it is necessary." Koralheim responded, looking skyward.