Daily excerpt from today's writing, chapter 15 of Palmarosa:
‘Why do I feel like this is a terrible idea?’ Astarion said. ‘Now, don’t fret, for this is all of your own making,’ Raphael said, his smile as chilling as the environment around them. ‘Ponder this, if you will, that if I’d been given the Crown of Karsus as was my due, I’d be ruling Cania as its beneficent Master, and Baator would have such a better, kinder accord with Faerun. Yet, there you were, and the rest of your team, and life lifted you oh-so-high – high enough to defeat would-be-gods, the Absolute, even the core of power in my House of Hope – and then recklessly, even cruelly cast you down with a lover’s spiteful delight to a low even lower than you knew was possible. Now, look before you at my Father’s palace, the great Mephistar, and tell me how your actions didn’t lead to this very moment?’ Astarion swallowed, and Raphael’s expression was unchanging. ‘Come with me,’ Raphael said, ‘let’s enjoy the fruits of your actions together, shall we?’
