"Can we clear up the misunderstanding now?"
"There was no misunderstanding. I failed again."
"Isn't that right, Mr. Swaro?" Annan said to the Epic Mage. "As I recall, we spotted a Ratfolk Priest, followed it to a Farmstead outside the city, discovered a Ratfolk lair, and prepared to wipe them all out. But someone formidable named Maria got away... Right?"
Mr. Swaro did not answer. Maria stared at Annan. "You want me to betray the Clan?"
"I just want you to be safe."
Mr. Swaro quietly tightened his grip on his staff.
Maria fell silent for a moment, then looked away from Annan. "There are still some Ratfolk outside."
Annan obligingly opened a Portal and told the Large Elementals that appeared, “There are more Ratfolk underground. Find them and take care of them.”
Most major races would never tolerate someone discussing the slaughter of their own people in front of them, not even Greenskin Orcs. Only Demons and Ratfolk were exceptions. A Demon would join in the killing; a Ratfolk would wait to eat its companions' corpses.
"Are your injuries serious?"
Annan frowned as he looked Maria over. Her gray robe was undamaged, concealing her alluring figure.
"It was a punishment inflicted on the soul."
"I came too slowly..."
Every moment Mr. Swaro stood there felt like an eternity. “I'm going back. Give me your Talisman,” he said with a cold snort.
Annan handed Mr. Swaro the Talisman. “Don't tell anyone else yet. I'll go see Olmedo once I get out.”
Swaro filled the Talisman without a word, then stepped through the Portal, which closed behind him.
Beneath the dark Farmstead, only Annan and Maria remained, along with the sounds of the Elementals killing Ratfolk in the tunnels all around them.
"Why did you come back?" Annan asked.
Even with