Im surprised youre visiting me. Emperor Ji Meng poured tea for Argrave. I thought I might see you only when it was absolutely necessary.

In truth, Argrave himself was the most surprised hed ended up here. Emperor Ji Meng had been a very large obstacle when theyd first met, then became a snake waiting for an opportunity to strike after hed been imprisoned. Now, the old man might be considered a docile predator. Clean-shaven, wearing luxurious Great Chu-style robes, and devoid of any and all magic frankly, he looked better than ever. And why wouldnt he be? He enjoyed an emperors lifestyle without any responsibility. But there were still gluts of knowledge in that head of his.

I need fresh eyes. Experienced eyes, Argrave responded. Theres not many other people that have experience with as large a nation as you do. When it comes down to it Im realizing the larger things get, you end up dealing with a few elites. Your commands trickle down from there. My problem lies in how Ive handled some things with those elites. I dont want the negative effects trickling down to my people.

Ji Meng picked up his own tea. Ill need more specifics.

I tried to bestow an important position, lets say, impartially. In so doing, I just made everyone a little miffed. I cant afford any flaws right now, not with things as they are. Argrave looked to the side, thinking. And on the other end of the spectrum, Im dealing with an erratic personality whose cooperation is extremely important. Hes selfish in a hedonistic way.

Ji Meng sipped his drink, then set it down. He rubbed his finger around the rim of the cup. Impartiality is a fools errand in our seat. The simple fact is, some people are better suited for reward. Some people you dont need to reward, because they dont complain enough to matter. Even if you kick them, theyll come crawling back. Some people only work for reward. And some no reward will be enough. Those people will get the most done, but they can also try and plant a dagger in your back. But youve already made the mistake, if I hear you right.

Argrave nodded. You do.

Do you have a good relationship with these people?

Yes, Argrave answered without hesitation.

Ji Meng drank, thinking. Do they have rapport with each other?

Argrave considered that. Some of them.

Yes, your closest confidants were your family, as I recall, Ji Meng mused. Friends and family dont make especially good officials, Ive found. The problems become all the more personal. Their disappointment is substantially greater when they expect something from you, and you dont deliver.

That holds true.

You cant be seen as trying to placate them, Ji Meng cautioned. Nor can you show indecision by retracting the position. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is disarm yourself. I mean, look what Ive done. He gestured all around. Giving a show of faith, a show of goodwill, can earn you a great deal. It cant be forced, cant be inorganic. You have to be patient. A chance will come, as it did for me. As for the other question, this erratic fellow what do you need him to do?

Make a sacrifice for the greater good of the nation, Argrave said.

Ji Meng winced, inhaling sharply through his teeth. Ouch. Quite the ask. And you cant drag him to the altar yourself, bleed him?

Hed smile if I tried. Argrave shook his head. No. It has to be something he does willingly. Its his talent, his ability.

Would you describe him as self-important? Did he inherit all he had?

Self-important, sure. Inheritance absolutely not. Argrave crossed his arms. He crawled his way up from the very bottom. An orphan.

I can work with that. It tells me that he had ambition at some point, but something changed that. Ji Meng inhaled deeply, then something seemed to come to him. You need to ruin his hobbies, somehow.

Ruin them? Argrave narrowed his eyes. You mean, stop him from doing them?

No. Hell just come up with clever ways to get past whatever obstacles you erect. You claimed he was hedonistic. He gravitates toward debauchery for a reason. If you can find that reason, you can twist it so that the things that he does bring him no pleasure. When the joy turns to sand in his mouth people like that, they cant stand with their emotions. They have to keep moving, keep going, keep seeking the next thing. Because if they stop to reflect, whatever it is theyre avoiding will catch up with them. Ji Meng spread his arms wide. And so youll come, giving him a chance to feel something. Even if that something is pain.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Hmm. Argrave leaned back. What if I make it very easy to get everything he wants? Bombard him with drugs, liquors, et cetera.

You could kill him, Ji Meng pointed out.

Not if I tried.

Well even still, I dont think itll work. He sounds like one of those people whom no reward will ever satisfy that I mentioned earlier. Ji Meng fell into deep thought.

What if I showed him something more than he could handle? Argrave questioned. Something far beyond what he was willing to endure?

Those opportunities are few and far between, Ji Meng said. When you attempt to uproot the desire with fear, scaring someone straight is seldom the actual resultespecially in adults.

I think I know something that could work. Argrave drank the whole teacup in one go, then set it down. Nice tea.

That isnt really how youre supposed to enjoy it, but you made an attempt, I suppose. Ji Meng raised his cup. I hope this becomes a regular thing. Its nice to put my hat back in the arena, once in a while.

Argrave smiled at him. Maybe not. I would hate if you got the wrong idea.

Ji Meng laughed heartily. I can see why that might cause problems.

#####

Youve turned the place around, somewhat. Made it a bit more human. Garm looked up at the entrance to the Low Way of the Rose. They stood on the side of the Burnt Desert. A new road had been paved, facilitating trade between the southern deserts of black sand and the more fertile valleys of Vasquer. Even now, some few caravans entered into the vast cavern below.

But I also cant see why Im here. Garm looked at Argrave.

Melanie and Elenore did all the renovations. I cant take credit. But you really cant guess why I brought you back? Argrave asked him. You asked a rather pertinent question last night, my friend. The Order of the Rose collapsed. No one really knows why. He gestured toward Garm. You can fix that. You can find out how and why each and every one of these people died.

Garm narrowed his eyes. A lot of people die without knowing the reason. A rockfall, a trip, a flood of blood just because they died, doesnt mean it can be explained. Perhaps it was divine providence.

We know that cant be true, Argrave disagreed. But its a lot more than that. We can take a stroll down memory lane. We can reminiscence about puddles of blood that used to be there, and necromantic abominations that once attempted to eat the face of passersby, or the vampires protecting a vault of books they couldnt even reach.

Well and good. But do you have time for strolls? Garm questioned.

For you, old buddy? Why not. He rolled his shoulder. And hey, this isnt just for my curiosity. This is for you, too.

I fail to see how. Garm frowned.

You asked me something yesterday, through your haze of wine and mead. Why did your son kill you? Argrave shrugged. Its a good question. And since this is the first place you died, we can do a comparison: before and now. We can run through how much youve changed in the centuries you spent staring at a door. I think, though, youll be far more interested in the life of your son, or the life of his mother. You can answer those questions you had last night, you realize. The why of it.

Garms invulnerable temperament finally proved a faade as he was rendered speechless.

Is the idea a bit much? Argrave scratched the back of his head. Yeah. I suppose I was a little thoughtless. If you dont feel youre up to it, we can turn back.

Youre not half as subtle or manipulative as you think you are, Garm cut in harshly.

Argrave laughed, his reverse psychology called out. All cajoling aside, you have to admit it does make you curious, doesnt it? Why would your son betray you? Was it just cold-blooded practicality, or was there something else? Maybe it was out of some twisted sense of affection. Either way, he probably died somewhere in there.

A lot of people died somewhere in there, you realize. Malgeridum was the capital of death in the world. Garm kneeled before the gaping opening in the mountain. You didnt stay here for long if you didnt have a little sadism in your blood.

Either way, we can finally find out so many answers, Argrave continued. Even Erlebnis didnt know just how the Order of the Rose came to be extinct. But you can, perhaps. And along the way, you might unlock more secrets to necromancy. More ways to perfect the new body that you transfer for. Every bit of necromantic knowledge you could ever imagine is hoarded within there, ripe for the picking. Not just what was written in bookswhat was written in their minds. Itd be the greatest heist of the century.

Yes, because you care so very much about the field of necromancy. Garm spoke distantly. You just want to scramble my head. Im not an idiot.

Dont you want to know how people remembered you after you died? Argrave asked. I know I would.

Garm rubbed his leathery lips, thinking hard as that dimly illuminated abyss awaited ahead. Argrave let him think in silence. Then, Garm stood and began to walk. He lacked the carefree vigor he had, instead walking measuredly and solemnly. Argrave followed right behind, eager to learn the truth of the man that wasand isGarm.

Hopefully, learning about the legacy he left behind might make him want to forge a new one, with what time hed been reallotted.