"Do we have an agreement?"
"We do. However..."
"You are worried about Eldrian?"
"Yes. We know he isn't one of us, but... To betray him like this."
"You don't need to consider it a betrayal. Besides, whether this will ever come to pass will depend on his actions from here onward. The stage is set. It simply depends if he is going to walk onto it or not."
"You make it sound like we aren't manipulating him towards that stage."
"It ultimately still depends on him."
"That doesn't make us feel any better."
Silence settled between the two.
"But, we have an agreement?"
"We do. In return, you will supply us with the key. Nothing less will be accepted."
"Yes. I understand."
—
"Las, don't charge ahead!" A poor dwarf shouted, rushing to keep up with a red-haired maiden who always rushed ahead of the vanguard. Her blade the first to be covered in blood as she charged the enemy without a shred of hesitation.