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A letter appears in a flash of colourless, smokeless flame, smelling of nothing in particular.

Meet me in the abandoned exploratory shafts it says in Drazoth's handwriting. Dark Two takes a look at the letter. The handwriting looks convincing, but there is something wrong with Drazoth's family seal. It looked somehow colourless and plain, while his family seal was resembling strange ciphers that no one could understand. The letter gave Dark Two exactly the same feeling that he felt when meeting Don Pedro first time, but the handwriting was exactly like Drazoths. This means one: they are collaborating against him!

After some preparations, he will go there alone, right after giving klan members new orders, so no one could disturb him.

Upon arrival Dark Two met a dwarf he kind off recognised, but he was not sure from where. Possibly he brought him a letter once?

'Please. follow me. He is waiting for you.'

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After leading D2 down several corridors he let him in through a doorway and locked the door behind him. In front of D2 was a desk with a mug on it, accompanied by two chairs. Room looked plain with no particular distinguishing features.

'Do sit down, Lord Klan Master. We have a lot to talk about' Said voice somewhat familiar. Despite the obvious similarity to Don Pedro's voice, the Klan-Master couldn't tell who was in the room with him.

- Who are you?

The Klan-Master could feel powerful forces focusing on a single dwarf. It must be a possession of some sort, though Dark Two still couldn't recognise him.

'Sit down, if you will, My Lord. We have much to discuss.' The figure said walking over to a chair and taking a seat. 'However, I am aware of your mistrust, so let me give you a proof of trust. I give you my word, as little that may matter to you, that I will not tell a lie in this chamber. I will also answer three first questions you ask. After those we will discuss what I want with you...' He added gesturing towards the left over seat.bThe chair looks like it's not affected by any kind of magic, and Dark Two's magic detection confirmed it quickly.

'I will.' Said Klan-Master. 'Three questions you say? Let me think about it...'

Dark Two couldn't sense any magic in the room except the earlier said forces within a dwarf.

'Alright... First of all, are you Don Pedro of Regenreich? Second, will both of us go out of here alive? And third... uhm... since soap is magic absorbing, would a large bar of it strapped to my chest protect me from any kind of magic possible to meet here?' he asked.

Don Pedro laughed mirthlessly.
'Yes, I am Don Pedro. Your second question is highly subjective, but let's agree on both of us leaving this room unscathed. Third is an interesting mental experiment. I do not know much about properties of soap but considering that most soaps are made of animal fat, i.e former living beings, I suppose they would be as conductive as blood in magical rituals. Now, diluted soap, or soapy water, would probably have similar properties to salt water. Salt has some thaum-conductive properties, however salted water seems to wash enchantments away, to a degree. SO presuming both...' He stopped for a second noticing an annoyed stare Dark Two was giving him. 'Ugh... If one would hypothetically do such a thing, tie a bar of pure soap to themselves I mean, it would be akin of holding steel pike in a thunderstorm atop a mountain, I think.' He finished.

'Now, let us discuss what I brought you here for. We are not so different, you and me Lord Klan Master. We both want the same thing, with varying details. Security of Doomforests. And so does our mutual friend, or so he claims. It is in our best interest to work together, you and I can do so much better cooperating rather than getting under each others metaphorical feet. So, here is the deal.' Don Pedro pushed a piece of paper towards D2. The page was encircled with strange symbols. 'All you need do is sign this.'

'and If I refuse?' Klan Master asked

'We shall leave this room, and I shan't bother you about it no more.'

Dark Two is considering the proposition. Those runes look suspicious and give him bad feelings...

'I'm not sure. I think that I would need a few days to decide, so why don't we repeat the meeting in three next days?' He tried.

Don Pedro frowned, stood up and walked to the door. Opening them wide he said.

'Your choice, My Lord. Remember however that next time the contract may not be so favourable for you. I trust you can find your own way back.'

D2 thinks for a moment. Then takes quill and ink, and when he is just about to sign, he says:

'I... I can't. If you truly wanted to serve the security of the fortress, then no declarations would be needed, as our cooperation would be based on trust. Doing it while being bound to your contract would be something different. The Order won't protect the fortress because it's their will, but because they would be mercenaries.'

With that D2 gets up to leave the room. Just before D2 leaves Don Pedro Grabs his arm, his fingers colder than death itself.

'I think both of us made some assumptions today. And both of us will get inevitably bitten in the arse for it. You may know more about soap than I do, but ponder this for a second. What makes your think the contract was to ensure your loyalty, and not Regenreich's cooperation? What makes you think I have enough pull to make others in my organization do as I wish without assurances?' With that he let go of Klan Master and closed the doors in his face, going back to his own business.