"Your friend is in deep trouble, Solus." The Red Mother said. "I don’t know if I can help her. More importantly, I don’t know if I want to help her."
"What do you mean?" Bytra asked as Zoreth moaned in pain.
"I don’t like you, Bytra. You attempted to murder Solus and then succeeded with Ripha." The Red Mother said. "I like your wife even less. I know who she is and what she has done.
"I don’t think helping either of you can serve my interests or Mogar’s."
"Then why did you come here if you had no intention to heal Zoreth?" Solus asked.
"Because you are my friend, Solus. I would never give bad news to you via a hologram. You deserve to look me in the face when I do." The Red Mother said. "Also, I didn’t say no. I just didn’t say yes.
"Give me the Mouth and the Ears, please. I have complete trust in the Infirmary’s capabilities, but I like to perform my own examinations."
"I can give you the Apprentice Mouth, but the Fire Dragons have the Ears." Tista said. "The Master Set is linked to the Infirmary and can’t be taken out."
"Thanks, child, but I wasn’t talking to you." Baba Yaga extended her hand towards Bytra. "I know you succeeded in replicating a few pieces of the Menadion Set, Bytra, and that’s another reason I consider you and your wife a threat."
"Then take it out on me. I’m the head of the Organization’s Forgemastery operations." The Raiju handed the Skull and the Maw without hesitation. "Zor has nothing to do with it. Leave Zor out of your grudge with me."
"I’m much more powerful than you, and I can use Creation Magic, child." The Red Mother reached out, but didn’t touch the artifacts. "Aren’t you afraid I’m going to crack your runes and steal your work like you did Ripha’s?"
"No, I’m not." Bytra shook her head. "We examined the Ears of Menadion together, yet you never came up with your own version. It means you either lack the skills or the will to craft the Ears. Whatever the answer is, I don’t care."
"Really? What if I just erase your imprint and replace it with mine?" Baba Yaga stared into Bytra’s eyes without moving.
"If you want the Maw and Skull, take them, but they will do you no good." The Fourth Ruler of the Flames sneered. "They each have a different unlock code and only I know them."
"I see." Baba Yaga nodded. "You have every reason to be confident. I have to admit that I’m not as good a Forgemaster as you, Bytra. I can’t replicate Ripha’s work or yours. Not yet."
"Then let’s make a deal." Bytra said. "You save Zor, and I’ll give you a Maw and a Skull without an unlock code. Study them, improve on them, destroy them, I don’t care."
"Would you really do it?" The Red Mother looked at the artifacts with eyes filled with greed.
"Yes." Bytra nodded. "I’ll take full responsibility for our trade with the Organization. The only thing I ask you is to provide me with the materials. I don’t have them on me, and once Zoreth is cured, the Master might renege on our deal."
"It seems you were right, Ripha." Baba Yaga turned to Menadion. "She’s as different from the old Bytra as I am from Night."
"I told you so." The First Ruler of the Flames tutted.
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