"That is the point, is it not? I do not wish to maim her permanently. Nor to harm her further, but..." here he hesitated, because emotions were always hard to voice. "I still care for her a great deal. But she will not bring harm to just me or her, but to others. So she must be dealt with."

You alway needed to make a sacrifice, nothing in life was for free.

Nothing.

Morgan's face screwed up as if he'd eaten something foul and took another drink from his flask.

"I know, Maalech. I know that's what she'll do. That's the only damn reason I'm agreeing to this." He looked down at the sand before sighing, "I still care for her, too, the manipulative bitch." He realized he should hold his tongue about her around Mal. And he didn't.

At least it might make her stop talking about him being her sword.

"Heck, maybe she'll actually meet the kids."

"Once Seth has ascertained that she has indeed broken the weave surrounding the Countess we should act. It would be foolish to wait. It is beyond me to predict what she will do in the future. And while I cannot say that I fear death, I certainly do not embrace it."

His head still ached, and it showed in the way he squinted towards the sun.

"I would have asked for his aid in this as well, but this is a betrayal where I want his hands clean. He is fond of her, and I think that in her own way, so is she of him."

"Thanks for that," said the man after a moment's thought. "Betraying people is something best left to men. And Seth, I love him, but he's a kid yet."

Morgan was quiet again before speaking, "Thanks for looking out for him."

Because it seemed Morgan wasn't really able to matter enough to do so.

"It was simpler before. As it is he is slowly making himself a part of this. He has been told... some things. What I deem safe for him to know. Nothing of the Tzarg. I would have wished to keep him completely ignorant, but I went that route once, and it failed. Ignorance is as dangerous as too much knowledge."

Maalech stretched out his legs completely, feeling and looking very much a part of the low wall. The fired brick looked almost red in the sunset.

"There is no need for thanks. He is talented. I would be a fool to overlook that, regardless of what we are to one another. Enemies. Friends. Talent should not go to waste."

It was simpler to talk about talent than actually being fond of the youth.

The colours at sunset. Sometimes Morgan wondered why they went that way. He could find out.

He could.

But why?

He looked over at Maalech then before looking out at the water. "I miss him, too, Mal. We weren't great friends, but we had a couple good laughs."

Morgan smiled a bit, sadly, "So am I your hatchetman for this again? What do you need me to do?"

"When were you ever that?" Maalech seemed amused. "Most of the time you seem to have designated yourself as my foil. It is quite a pleasant change." There was half a joke there, because with the grimness of what they were about to do, he needed one.

"She can be lured. Of that I am certain. Whatever remains of my talents, I still remain quite a potent bait. However... she has power now. I would not wish for a battle. Especially not when your talents could leave her dead and maimed if things got out of hand." It was obvious that he had some idea of what do do, but was not relishing it one bit.

"I've been feeling like it lately. Delievering messages, pushing people one way or the other for you, gathering info... Feel like a hatchetman. Or something similar." He smirked some and cracked his back.

"Hell, my thought was to get the cards to you, have you rip the lot of 'em up and then lock her down while she's trying to wrap herself around it all."

"It is actually a good plan." Maalech sounded surprised, giving Morgan an appreciative look. "It is what I would have suggested. If you seek to retain your image of the ignorant yokel you will need to work harder at it."

Yes, he was surprised. Which perhaps wasn't very flattering for Morgan.

"She runs the risk of damage, but less than with any other path."

"You gave me an enemy I mostly understand and a weapon I know how to use, Maalech. That's not about me being smart or stupid. He looked at the man, sighing a little, "I'm a Destroyer, Mal. That's my role. I hurt people."

And then he looked out to the sunset, the barest arc of yellow-white over the violet sea, under the orange-red-yellow-purple sky.