Celeste tried to be difficult, but every time she twitched, Malatar would simply touch her and a feeling of relaxation would wash over her and it took a while to wear off. Eventually, she stopped trying and decided to save her strength and let them carry her.

They arrived at an old mansion. It wasn't falling apart, but it was clear that no one took care of it. Vines climbed up its walls, the path was overgrown with grass, and what had been the gate was lying on the ground. Malatar nodded to Tundar and Seraque and they put her down in front of the door. He opened the door for her.

"Guests first."

Celeste thought about not moving forward, but a shove from Tundar had her stumbling across the threshold and into the mansion. The others followed closely behind and one of them shut the door.

The inside was in surprisingly good condition for how the outside looked. She could see a few cobwebs higher up, but dust seemed to be at a minimal. Who had lived here? Clearly a noble, but most of them wouldn't dare live outside the safety of the walls at the very least. Malatar hooked his arm around hers.

"Go check on our meal. I will entertain our guest."

They nodded and went off. Malatar guided her to a room just off the main foyer. In it, a long table sat with the four places at the end set. There was even a lit candle, despite the natural light coming in from the skylight in a window. Malatar pulled out the chair next to the one at the head of the table.

"Please, sit down."

He unhooked his arm. Celeste sat in the chair and he pushed it up to the table before taking his seat.

"How long had you been in the graveyard?" How much had he seen?

"We were only there because we felt great emotional distress and decided to check it out. People don't go to the graveyard very often. It was just a coincidence that it was you we found. I thought I was going to have to fetch you from Rusty’s to have this meal. You certainly tend to not wander from the places you stay."

So it didn't sound like they saw much if anything at all. She wasn't going to ask how they got the drop on Buttercup.

"What do you want, Malatar? I'm not in the mood for games."

"I can tell. I was hoping to wait until after we ate to discuss things, but we can start now."

His hand shifted toward hers and she quickly moved it away. Celeste wasn't going to let him touch her if she could help it. It always did something to her and she didn’t like it. He chuckled and moved his hand back.

"Did someone tell you what I can do or did you figure it out yourself?"

"I don't know what you or the others can do for sure, but I know it has something to do with emotions."

"Since everyone else knows, I'll tell you. You know how we are artificial beings? Well, somehow we can sense the emotions of others. Our creator could never figure out why. But I, being the original, can do a bit more than that, as I'm sure you've concluded by how much you shy away anytime I move in your direction." This time he trapped her hand before she could move it away. "With physical contact, I can push emotion onto someone else."

"Like you've done previously." She tried using her other hand to get his handoff.

The unwanted calm feeling crept into her before withdrawing when he removed his hand.

"Yes, though it was difficult to do while bringing you here. I don't know if it was because you were aware I was doing something or if you were in a more stable emotional state than before." He shrugged. "But that hardly matters. I invited you here to give you another option for your current conundrum. And please, hear me out before you refuse."

About that time, a few goblins came in, put down the plates, and left.

"They live here in exchange for the upkeep." He explained. "This is more of a home away for us than anything else. Go ahead and eat. Don't worry too much about table manners."

Malatar didn't say a word to her throughout the entire meal. He would occasionally look up and smirk or chuckle, but that was it. Celeste focused on eating the meal without making too much of a mess. It was good rabbit and greens. After they finished, Malatar had some wine brought out.

"Don't worry. I didn’t bring you here to get you drunk." He poured her only a quarter of the goblet while he poured himself about half. "Now about that other option I mentioned earlier…" Malatar took a sip of his wine. "Despite the way Davik framed it, you don't have to choose between the Revivers, the Renewers, the Order, or leaving Feon altogether. I would like to petition you to join me."

"But you're a Renewer."

"Yes, but where we are isn't under Renewer control. It belongs to me and my brothers." Malatar indicated the area with his arms. "Davik has no authority here. You could live here in safety. We have plenty of food, plenty of space, and you could come and go as you please. And that last thing is what you want, isn't it?"

"That would be nice if you weren't included in it." She noticed that he hadn't named his price for this generous offer either.

"I know we didn't start on the best of terms, Celeste. May I call you that? Sleeper is just so formal." He took another drink and stood up. "But there's a reason that Davik keeps me around even though I'm not the best fighter in the camp. I am very useful to him. And I can be useful to you too."

He walked behind her and his fingers grazed her arm up to her shoulder. He pulled away before she could retaliate.

"What would I need from someone like you?"

Malatar put down his goblet and knelt beside her chair. Their faces were at the same level now. She didn’t dare take her eyes off him in case he tried something.

"I can be anything you want or need me to be. An advisor, a confidant..." Malatar brought a hand up to her cheek and observed her face. She kept on guard for his usual trick, but nothing happened. He continued. "Or maybe you need something a bit more like a friend. I can be a very good one."

None of those choices were appealing. All of them involved contact with him. She wanted him out of her life, not entrenched in it. But he was determined to squeeze himself in there somewhere.

"Hm. No? None of those?" He removed his hand. "I see I will have to do better. What you need the most, my dear Celeste, is someone who understands you and appreciates what you're going through. I, along with my brothers, are also outsiders in the groups we have chosen to dwell with. I understand the loneliness, the sleepless nights, the worry that when you wake up, what little you have will be gone or the fear of the few allies you do have abandoning you or something happening to them."

Celeste tightened her grip on her goblet. The things he said were too specific for them to be lucky guesses. Maybe he had experienced them too… Or had read her journal and guessed them. He wanted something from her. She had to keep that in mind.

Malatar continued. "When you met Davik, I felt your fear and confusion melt into relief and happiness, only for it to be replaced with anger, betrayal, and the sting of rejection. That was what hurt the most, wasn't it? Him just dismissing you like that after you worried so much about his fate."

"Stop it." She demanded as evenly toned as she could. It was hard to keep some waver out of it. "You're just trying to manipulate me because you want something from me. Just come out and say why you want me to join you."

"Simple. I aim to be the one over what's left of Feon once Davik and Orsic either kill each other, die, or step down in Orsic's case and get removed in Davik's. But I'll need people who aren't burdened by the whole Renewer vs. Reviver mindset so deeply. You could help usher in a new era, one not beset by petty alliances and old men who can't let go of past rivalries."

"Why don't you team up with the Unifiers then?"

Malatar scoffed and downed some more of his wine.

"There’s no way the ones running that group want what's best for Feon. If they did, mercenaries wouldn't make up the bulk of their forces and they wouldn't have challenged Davik right off the bat and completely disregard Orsic. Besides, since when has anything out of Costa Tira been charitable? They have an angle."

Malatar would know all about angles. Celeste finally sipped some of the wine. She supposed it was good, but she didn’t have much to compare it to.

"But unlike Davik, my offer doesn't expire nor will I expect an answer even by the time he wants yours. Just think about it." He got up with his nearly empty goblet of wine. "I'm afraid I have to take my leave for now. I need to get back to the fort before nightfall. Tundar and Seraque will remain here if you need someone besides a goblin. Please stay the night and you can leave in the morning."

He quickly downed the rest of his goblet and did a quick bow.

"By your leave, Lady Celeste."

He left Celeste sitting there, alone with her wine. She sighed and finished it. Dare she stay the night?