Meesei could not help but to laugh. She took a sip of her wine and pointed a claw towards Sabine. “You claim you are shy, Sabine, but you ask some of the bravest questions I have heard. Even if they are unintentional.” 

Rukeewei chuckled along with Meesei. “Well, it may not be story book, but it is definite a story worth telling. I can’t imagine what I would have thought.”

After a few moments, Meesei returned her attention to Ariel and Rukeewei. “I, of course, know how you two met, but I do have some curiosities of my own. Are you finding parenthood to be everything you anticipated?”

[hr]

Hal-Neesa gave an amused huff. “Oh, I remember it well. It was before my time in service of lord Molag Bal, so I found myself [i]against[/i] them, as did the rest of Tamriel. You should take my advice when I say that it is better to keep them as allies. The Daedra will not listen to you, or respect you, or particularly like you, but they will obey their master’s orders to bring destruction upon Vile and his realm. Oh, and I shall not pretend my master is offering his aid selflessly.” Neesa laughed. “The greatest master of speechcraft could not make [i]that[/i] claim believable. No, every portal opened from his realm to Vile’s shall make it that much easier for him to claim more of Vile’s power when and if he is defeated. A fair price for an army of Daedra, I would say.”

Leaning over the table, Neesa placed down the sigil stone in the space between Teroiah and gro-Tagnud. “Regardless of your thoughts on the matter, it is a condition of Molag Bal’s aid that you bring these stones with you and teach their handlers how to activate them. Use them or pretend you won’t, but both I and my master know what you will choose when you are facing down Vile’s fearless horde of servants.”