Ieridenth read for a long while, ignoring the sounds of raucous and drunken laughter from beyond his door. His eyes were intent on the passage before him:
"Guardinals are all known to possess the ability to speak with any animal."
Did any animal include insects? Ieridenth sat back for a moment, his fingers on his chin. If he could disguise himself and Velentham as Mezzoloths, even speaking as them, they might have a chance. The problem would be ensuring Velentham didn't go crazy. He was already spiraling down the longer he was here. It aggravated Ieridenth having to call off his men to deal with the petty squabbles they all got into.
He closed the book and placed it beneath a few others on the pile beside his desk. Then he got up and walked to the door, peeking his head out. "Friend, Velentham," he called. Once he had Velentham's attention, he waved a hand. "Come, let's chat."
"What do you want?" Velentham said as he approached.
Ieridenth closed the door behind them, noting how big Velentham seemed in the small space of his room. He held his hand out to his chair. "Please, sit." Velentham obeyed. "How good are you at reading runes?""Expert," the Guardinal snorted.
"Even demonic runes?"
"Runes are simple, much like those who can't read them."
Ieridenth let the insult slide and he grinned lightly. "I have a proposition for you, my friend. One I think would be mutually beneficial for both of us."
"Go on."
"There are portals in this land which lead to the various levels of Gehenna and eventually," here Ieridenth paused and fluttered his hand to the sky in a grand gesture, "out."
"That is how most of these forsaken places work. What is the proposition?"
"You can speak to animals, can you not?"
"I try not to link with simple minds." Again, Ieridenth let the insult slide. "But you can."
"Yes."
"Even those insects that had you on the ground simpering like an invalid and ready to accept death?"
This time, Ieridenth smiled at the fresh bloom of red that came over Velentham's cheeks. Insult delivered, action required.
