Part 19 (1/2)
Ylith blushed as she realized he was looking at her. Im-mediately, he suffered a coughing spell.
”May I get you something to drink?” she offered. ”A little ichor, perhaps?”
”Please.”
”Have a seat. Be comfortable.”
She hurried off, returning in a few moments with a pair of drinks.
”Here. Thought I'd join you,” she said.
”Thank you.”
He sipped it slowly. She seated herself nearby.
”I take it the project goes well,” Babriel repeated after a time.
”Oh, Azzie has his problems, I understand,” she answered.
”You must be a great help and comfort to him.”
”I wouldn't know,” she replied. ”He's been somewhat un-communicative. ”
”I don't understand.”
”The last time we talked he was a trifle -cold. It may be he has more problems than I realize, or it may just be -”
”What?”
”That he's just that way - to me.”
They sipped their ichor in silence for a time. Then: ”It is in the nature of evil to be nasty, I guess,” Babriel observed. ”Even to its friends and allies.”
Ylith looked away.
”He wasn't always like that, to me.”
”Oh.”
”Your side is nicer about these things, I suppose.”
”I'd like to think so.”
”But then you have to be. . . . The nature of things.”
”I suppose. But I like to think that we do it because we really want to. It just makesus feel good.”
”Hmm.” She turned toward Princess Scarlet. ”Look at her,” she said. ”Poor thing has no notion that she's only a counter in a game.”
”But she wouldn't exist, save for that.”
”Still, it might be better than being used.”
”An interesting theological point.”
”Theological, h.e.l.l! Excuse me. But people aren't things, to be manipulated that way.”
”No, they have free will. So she's still her own person. That's what makes this whole thing interesting.”
”Free? Even when the choices are artificially narrowed?”
”That's another interesting theological point-that is, yes, I suppose it isn't very nice. Still, what's to be done? She really is something of a game piece.”
”I guess so. I can't help feeling a bit sorry for her, though.”
”Oh, I do, too. We're big on sympathy.”
”Is that all? I mean, it doesn't help her much.”
”But we're not allowed to help in this. Though now you mention it, I suppose I could recommend her for some grace.”
”Wouldn't that be cheating, helping her?”
”Not really. Grace sort of helps without helping, if you know what I mean. It kind of helps you to help yourself. I can't see that as cheating. Yes, maybe I should. ...”
Another sip.
”Have you always been that way?” she asked.
”What way?”
”Kind.”
”I suppose so.”
”How refres.h.i.+ng. It makes it easier having you as the observer.”
”Have you always been a witch?”
”It was a career choice, a long time ago.”
”Enjoyable?”
”Most of the time. What sort of entry does the Power of Light have going?”