A deal worth making

The song has no words.

„I feel determination and curiosity from that song“ Melo greets her visitor.

„There is also relief from having made a decision.“ Zewrepa answers. „I currently don’t understand that notion“ the dryad concedes. Zewrepa nods „I am bringing that to the table. Though you do understand that this is not exactly an offer.“

The dryad smiles „The wounded are obvious prey. I do understand that much. I might ask a few question and propose that you ask some question of your own in return. What I ask and you hear may impact your decision.“. Zewrepa nods wordlessly. Melo continues „Why you, not the wizard? This coupling is unusual.“ Zewrepa changes to a very different song omitting the parts of her songs that usually sound like bird song. It is uncharacteristically ragged. She chuckles „This is a male song. I apologize for the execution. We call it the song of acceptance. It is sung if only one male answers to a song of calling and is hence the candidate without a fight. Sometimes one wins by acting when everybody else hesitates.“

Melo grins „I suspect being the subject of that song is not flattering.“. They both burst out laughing. „What are your plans?“ asks Melo. „I seek to uphold the reputation of my lost clan. I have become a lone voice. The last stanza is already playing. I only get to push it to end on the right cord. So you need not fear becoming an object handed down through generations.“ Melo does not understand. „Why does it end with you? Are you sterile?“ Zewrepa produces a whistling, hollow note and responds „No, as far as I know I could lay eggs. Attracting males without a proper tower would be an issue. But even if I got some inferior substitute for a tower, there will be no choir to impart our wisdom to my children. They would grow into near mindless savages.“ She continues with a question „Why did he give you up?“. „As far as I understood his plan was easier to implement while his soul was unencumbered. He gave up all his familiars. I was about to die anyway.“

Melo spreads her arms. „Very well. This will be interesting. Very different from Marental. This necessarily has to have a sexual component. Males of your race fight before mating?“

Zewrepa just assumes a a slightly crouched stance. Melo goes in swinging. Zewrepa blocks her swing. Two other arms grasp Melo’s arm. A hip seems to come out of nowhere. Melo’s feet leave the ground. Withing seconds she is on her stomach on the ground, her arms pinned behind her back.

„Marental took longer to finish“ Melo remarks.