"Your brother Gemlamal requests to an audiance with you, my lord," Kiron reported as he bowed to his master.

"What does he want?" Valas responded curtly, as he pulled his face from a shallow bowl of shimmering pale liquid.

"He only said he wanted to see you, my Lord," Kiron replied.

"Fine!" Valas grunted in annoyance. His older brother Gemlamal rarely made an appearance like this unannounced, and Valas was curious what was so urgent for Gemlamal to make his way to the other side of Lindri.

"Show him to the throne room, I shall be there shortly."

"Ugh, what the hell does he want? I need to get this done and over with so I can get back to my business as soon as possible." He thought as he walked to the throne room through the back entrance.

Valas's throne room was an opulent space. Made nearly entirely of black onyx, with braziers lining the walls, and adorning the twisted pillars that seemed to burst through the floor at odd angles. The dull flame light and black stone gave the room a malevolent feeling. Valas took his seat upon the dais, a molten flowing throne of magma, scaling over in places as it cooled from the surrounding air. The wall of blue flame that acted as the door parted down the middle as Kiron came into the room Gemlamal in tow.

"Lord Gemlamal!" He announced as he bowed before Valas.

"Hello, my favorite brother, what brings you all this way to talk to me?" Valas greeted with a toothy grin across his face.

"Oh save it, Valas!" Gemlamal huffed. "I am neither your favorite nor are you surprised I'm here." he accused as he stormed past Kiron into the room.

Valas found this confusing, it was true Gemlamal was far from his favorite anything, but he genuinely had no clue why he was here. But clearly, Gemlamal thought it should be obvious.

"I honestly have no clue why you are here Gemlamal," Valas said putting up his hands in a surrendering gesture.

"What do you hope to achieve with this wager with Ishira?" Gemlamal demanded in indignation.

"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Valas retorted, annoyed at being berated in such a way.

"Because mother will lose her mind if she finds out."

"Again, I fail to understand how this is your problem or concern!"

"You are playing a dangerous game little brother, for your sake you had better hope you win. I do not think you fully grasp what will happen if you lose that hourglass." Gemlamal said as he pointed to the volcanic sand glass on a pedestal next to Valas. It's fine black grains slowing falling mystifyingly one at a time.

"Why are you not giving Ishira this riot act of yours!?" Valas said raising his voice.

"I did," Gemlamal said through gritted teeth "She is even more stubborn than you are, but more importantly I have never known Ishira to bet on something she wasn't sure she would win."

"Are you legitimately worried for me Gemlamal?" Valas asked with confusion in his voice.

Gemlamal opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Valas could swear he saw a look of pain on his brothers face before he spoke.

"I fear that your impulsive nature has finally backed you into a situation in which you can not win baby brother. Just know that we are all watching to how this falls out." With that Gemlamal turned and stormed out of the room leaving Valas alone and confused.

"Is he right? Have I made a massive mistake?" Valas thought as he slumped down into his seat.