Chapter 3–It's never so simple
For the first time since I got here, things are starting to seem simple.
I'm pursuing Slark: a dangerous, armed convict from a maximum-security prison through a jungle full of unseen terrors.
Just like old times.
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Somewhere in the second top lane outpost (The first one had been torn down by a tree), a mage both ancient and impossibly powerful looked into a scrying mirror, twirled his fingers, pointed at a random blip of light on his scrying display, and calmly said "Exort, exort, exort."
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Gondar's world exploded in light. He tried to get to cover, but in an instant it was gone, he was half-blind, and could barely move for the pain. He staggered down and fell, his every nerve ablaze with pain, his fur and skin seared raw.
Of course. Just when I thought things were simple again.
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There he lay a few minutes as the pain began to ebb, whimpering and wondering what he'd done to deserve this fate. As he finally found the strength to get up, he saw a huge fish-man, trident held lightly against his side, slither towards him. He started to get up, took a few steps, and fell, his body afire again.
"Make it quick", Gondar choked out, the words on his mouth full of despair.
"You're hunting Slark.", Slardar pointed out.
"Yeah, I was.", responded Gondar, pained. "Just get it over with. I hate it when people gloat over things they didn't earn."
"That was not my plan. I want to bargain for your life.", said Slardar.
"What? We're enemies–", Gondar began, but was cut off by Slardar. "It's not so simple. Slithereen guards do as they're told, Slithereen do their duty. It matters not if we like it. The emperor owed the Dire a life-debt and repaid by sending me. So I fight for chaos out of duty."
"Yes, and now it's your duty–", Slardar cut him off again. "To kill you, but you are small and do not matter so much. Slithereen have a duty to the empire and must pursue the empire's enemies. Slark… Slark is a criminal. Slark is a murderer. Slark is the only escapee from Dark Reef prison, he is an enemy of the empire. You are known even in the deeps, Gondar. We had always hoped Slark would go to land, so we could hire you to bring him to justice. You help me find Slark and I will give you my healing salve and spare you today."
Slardar offered Gondar his wet, slimy hand.
Gondar shook it.
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It took a while, but with liberal application of healing salve, Gondar was soon back on his feet, and besides it was easy to track Slark, who'd never had to cover his tracks on land before. They tracked him through the jungle, slowly gaining on their quarry, who was raiding the jungle camps for gold and supplies.
Night had dawned and the moon –still the same lucent crescent even in this place– was out when Gondar spotted Slark and came back to Slardar, who was a ways behind him.
"Alright, there he is." said Gondar, pointing in the direction of where Slark was.
"Good. I will bring him down." responded Slardar, and then slither-sprinted forward faster than someone his size had any right to, his light illuminating the darkness, giving him direction yet nigh blinding Gondar's darkness-accustomed cat eyes.
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Slardar returned mere minutes later with a bloody mass slung over his shoulder.
"Slark could not hide from us." said Slardar, not a scratch on his scales.
Gondar narrowed his eyes, getting ready to flee if Slardar decided he was no use to him, and said "So what now?"
"Now you are of no use to me. Now you are my enemy." growled Slardar.
"So what, two with one stone?", Gonar asked. He was ready: he'd prepared a few low-yield smoke bombs which he hoped would distract Slardar for long enough to escape.
"No. I said I would spare you for today. A Slithereen has honour. We do not lie. You go free until midnight, but if I see you after that, I will kill you."
"But, you can't fail to fight your enemies, can't fail to do your duty.", Gondar wondered why he was saying this. Perhaps some part of him didn't want to keep delaying the inevitable, perhaps he just wanted things to make sense, he did not know.
"It's not so simple.", responded Slardar "You do not matter so much. My honour matters much more. Honour the Slithereen code above all, but also fight the enemies of the empire and do your duty and protect the empire and do not fail. There is much in conflict within the life of a Slithereen guard. I am a Slithereen captain, so I can make the decision here. And I choose honour. You live."
"Thank you, Slardar.", Gondar said earnestly, still not quite believing his luck, before disappearing into the night.