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‘I suppose I’m mainly concerned with everyone’s decision to do whatever they want’

‘Expound?’

‘This is supposedly an island of death, yes?’

‘The war between Ulbecetonth’s brood and the House of the Vanquishing Trinity left the land scarred The taint of death is e pure lives here’

‘I believe you said, originally, that nothing lived here, period’

‘Did I?’ The Grey One That Grins smiled ‘It likely seemed more draies for the deception’

‘Please, think nothing of it My interest is certainly caught But as we see, things do live here’ He glanced down the beach ‘Or did, anyway’

The earth there was a place of deeper death than even the ruinous battlefield of the beach couldin places Mingled a of two ars, their bodies twisted into ash that flaked off with each stray gust of wind They were scarcely distinct fros they had started life as

‘Truth be told, they are a the source of my worries’

‘Go on’

‘They came down They attacked me’

‘You were on their land’

‘Their land that nothing lives on’

‘It was still theirs’

‘But why? Why bother over such a land? Would it not make more sense to depart to a place where life persists?’

‘If you’ll recall, and Iyou, they did have such a land You repurposed it’

‘Your generosity is obliged, but I take no offence in the cos required their land We took it’

‘And why did you take it?’

‘Because we are strong They are weak Why did they not siin to see your puzzlement May I pose a theory?’

‘By all means’

‘The term you seek is "symbiosis"’

‘Syed teeth creased his purple lips ‘I like that word What does it h mutual cooperation, one life-form supports another’

‘Ah, now I am further confused You’ll have to pardon me’

‘Not at all Consider theestured to the burned corpses

‘Those Green Things,’ Sheraptus said, nodding ‘Well, not so green anymore What of them?’

‘They did not abandon their land until they had no choice, because to abandon their land would uard their waters In return, the land provides them with fruit and fish to feed off of’

‘Mm,’ Sheraptus hummed ‘One almost feels poorly for e did to them’

‘Almost?’

‘As I said, we required their land if we are to return your generous contributions’

‘Please, don’t ift to you’ His coestured to the crown ‘You have used them wisely thus far We trust that you will use theazed skyward for aup ‘Ah I believe I understand Do you mind if I theorise?’

‘Oh, please do’

‘Syive us these stones, you lead us to this new green world and in return …’

‘Go on’

‘We kill the underscurasp it quite well’

‘Yet I remain puzzled’

‘Oh?’

‘Indeed I aer, vaster world beyond these chunks of sand floating in this … it’s called an ocean?’

‘It is and there are’

‘A bigger, vaster world filled with more beasts, more birds, more trees and more people and all their vast multitudes of invisible sky-people’

‘Gods’

‘Another word for "stupid"’

‘Agreed’

‘And there are …’ He looked to his companion, smirked ‘Females there?’

‘Many’

‘Then why are Sheraptus and Arkklan Kaharn here on this desolate place? Why are we not out and learning more of this world?’

‘I did request your presence here’

‘Ah I suppose the question then beco to you?’

His vision was painted red as the nethra surged through hi his coainst the ruby haze The Martyr Stones in his crown blazed, the black iron they were set in groith their response

It had been the last sight Those Green Things had seen before they were reduced to ash They had shrieked in their language, tried to crawl over each other to escape The Grey One That Grins did not try to escape, though The Grey One That Grins never ht he didn’t have to move

Sheraptus made people move

Sheraptus was not pleased

‘Ah, but hoould you make this world work for you?’

‘I’d find a way’

‘You did not find a way to reach this world It was our searching that discovered the Nether before we found heaven’

‘Heaven does not exist’

‘Many suspect it does’

‘Then they are weak’

‘Weakness rules this world, Sheraptus They believe in things that they themselves do not understand You cannot hope to understand it, either Not without us’

‘And what do you provide?’ Sheraptus asked, narrowing his fiery stare ‘You send us on errands against the underscuhts’

‘You suggested that they were dull for their hunger’