Kaverak's Offer

Kavarek rapped on Andania's chamber door. It had been an hour since
his frustrating meeting with Mira and his good mood had returned. Even
his master seemed pleased with the way things were going.

Andania hurried to answer the door, quite unexpecting any visitors as
was obvious by her partially undressed state. She frowned as she pulled
it open, she'd not time for nonsense. Seeing it was Kavarek, she
blinked in surprise and smiled. "Come in m'lord."
Kavarek was already half way through the door, not waiting for his
invitation. When she had closed the door behind him he set his staff to
one side and took her hand in his, a beaming smile on his face.
"Welcome back my friend"
"Thank you m'lord." She replied cautiously, wondering at his
arrival

He paused to admire her in her state of undress, making no effort to
disguise it, then took a seat by her bed and sighed contently.
"Not only did you bring me the girl, but that traitor Alexander as
well! You've done well"
"I thought you would be pleased m'lord." She ignored his staring,
though if it was someone else she'd have been hard pressed not to kill
him.
"As I'm sure you know our war against the Perisian's is coming to an
end. We have only their battered remains to sweep aside. And tomorrow,
once I've taken the Ilavid from that spiteful child, my power will be
threefold. It is time we pressed our forces onto new lands, don't you
agree?"
"Of course m'lord." Andania nodded, quite agreeing with the idea.
"But I'm getting ahead of myself" Kavarek said. "We have acquired so
much, and yet how long has it been since either of us has had the time
to sit back and enjoy any of it?"
"I am content here always, m'lord." She replied truthfully.
"The great such as us should be more than simply content my dear. I
have more one thing to ask of you tonight and then you'll be free of
your duties for a few days. The girl, Mira, wants a hot bath and some
food. See that it's done, and throw Alexander in with her for a while.
Let them wallow together in their pity before the end"
"A bath m'lord?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, that's right". Kavarek remembered the girls warning to him about
a traitor in his midst.
"And make sure no harm comes to her. I want her unspoiled for
tomorrow"
'Unspoiled for now' he thought to himself with a sly grin 'but by the
end of the day I will have taken her mind, body and soul'
"Of course m'lord." Andania said, nodding, finding the request perhaps
the dumbest she'd ever heard.
"She's quite a character isn't she?" Kavarek said with a chuckle,
noticing the look of comic disbelief in Andania. "And fortune that she
came to me in a good mood".

He stood, moved over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "And
you, dear Andania. How should I reward my most loyal follower?"
"I need no reward, sir." She replied softly
"Come now" he said. "There must be something you desire?"
"Only things improper to ask."
"Then let us be improper, you and I. Soon we will present our might to
the world, but for now we are alone and even time is on our side. Enjoy
it while it lasts"

Andania laughed slightly. "As you wish m'lord. We will be
improper."
"Then what is it you crave?" he asked, holding out a hand. He closed
his eyes briefly and in a small flash a tiny globe of shimmering light
appeared over his outstretched palm, revolving slowly. She recognized
it as the world of Sparda. "I would give you all this if you continue
to serve me so well"
She stared at it for a moment, and then looked up at him. "You."

He softly spoke a single word of Wyvach and the illusion of Sparda
burst into flame before disappearing completely in a puff of smoke. He
stepped up to her and slipped an arm around her waist. "Your reward" he
said before kissing her softly?