This was what Annani had been waiting for. She made a show of considering the request, dabbing at her lips with a napkin, and taking a sip of jasmine tea before responding.
"I suppose I could stop by to see him," she said, affecting reluctance. "Since I am already here."
"Thank you." Areana's relief was palpable. "I know he can be difficult, but I think he's ready to negotiate in good faith."
Annani doubted very much that Navuh had ever done anything in good faith in his entire existence, but she kept that thought to herself.
"We shall see," was all she said.
They finished the meal at a leisurely pace, Annani deliberately drawing out the process to make Navuh wait longer.
Finally, when the last dumpling had been consumed and the tea had gone cold, Annani pushed her plate away.
"I suppose it is time to visit Navuh and see how well he is doing."
Kian stood and offered her a hand up.
"Should I come with you?" Areana asked hesitantly.
Annani smiled. "I think it is best if we speak with him alone."
Areana nodded.
As the four of them entered the elevator, Anandur leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "This should be interesting. I can't wait to see the two titans playing the game of who flinches first."
"I hope he does not offer information about a massive terror attack in exchange for his freedom." Now that Navuh was ready to make his offer, she could finally give voice to her fears. "If he knows me at all, he will realize that this is the only leverage powerful enough to make me release him."
"He could lie about it," Kian said, his flat tone indicating that the same thought had occurred to him.
"We can do that as well," Anandur countered. "Promise his freedom for the information, but only after it is confirmed, and then find an excuse for why the information wasn't complete and refuse to let him go."
"That's not how we operate," Kian said.
As the elevator door opened on the clinic level, Anandur uncrossed his arms and pushed away from the wall. "That's why we never win. Navuh plays dirty while we play fair."
There was truth to his words, and Annani considered the alternative. What if they played as dirty as Navuh and his cohorts did?
Anandur was right that it was foolish to take the higher moral stand against an immoral and dishonest enemy, but at what cost? Soiling their souls? Becoming just a little evil?
It was a slippery slope straight into the devil's domain, and Annani did not like the company she would have to keep there.
When they entered the clinic, Bridget came out of her office. "Good afternoon, Clan Mother, Kian." She nodded at the brothers. "Do you want to go right in?"
"Please," Kian said.
Bridget tapped something on her tablet, and the heavy door began to swing outward. Annani took a step forward, intending to enter, but Brundar shot a hand in front of her.
"Forgive me, Clan Mother, but we should go first."
"Of course."
Areana had said that Navuh could move his hands now, and Brundar did not want to take any chances. The brothers walked in first, positioning themselves on either side of the room with their hands resting on their sidearms.
She was about to follow when Kian put a hand on her shoulder. "Do not get close to him. Keep your distance."
"He's still very weak," Bridget said from behind them. "He's incapable of doing any physical harm. The only thing dangerous about him is his mind and his mouth."
"A very astute observation," Annani confirmed before walking into the room, her bearing regal, her expression carefully arranged into one of mild boredom.
