The Ballad of Adler Young, Canto 2.5

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"What better way," Ash inquired, "to take your revenge than by rebelling against the people who took everything from you? Cut them out, then cut them up. Let them know just how insignificant they were in the scope of your destiny. Keep them in the dark as you raise the hammer above their heads - then when the time is right, let them know exactly what they did and who they wronged. Imagine the look in their eyes as they realize that all avenues of escape are gone and all chances for mercy are dead. It is a very old and beautiful dance."

"What does revenge have to do with me becoming Emperor?" I mused. "Is revenge something you have a lot of experience with? Is that another reason you want back into Faerie?"

"Somewhat," Ash shrugged. "I have often taken revenge for myself, and even more often on behalf of others. It's one of the sources of my fortune. My skills were always in high demand. However, sadly I must accept that the ones who wronged me are probably all dead already. I shall have to look into it. But, that's a personal problem which you need not worry about. You're certainly not one of them, and I am willing to swear an oath as previously mentioned. My informants, wealth, resources, and experience will all be at your disposal. I can mold your fledgling organization into a force to be reckoned with. My informants will scour the land looking for the noble skunk femme you need to find. My employees will tirelessly spread pro-Lord Randall propaganda. All you'll have to do is use the time-skip. Be sure to do it just like I told you, lest you go too far, and you can skip to the end when the work is all done. Some lowfolk will probably get hurt, but honestly, what are the lowfolk to the High King of all the elves? With one exception, they have all been a disrespectful nuisance. I can deliver all this and you only have to say yes."

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Something about this didn't add up. The insistence on swearing oaths implied a lack of trust, which - Seelie or Unseelie - was downright un-elfly. I also didn't like the idea of letting this unsavory character do all the work. How would I be deserving of a crown that someone else earned for me? Skipping ahead in time sounded especially suspicious; clearly Ash wanted me out of the way while he perpetrated who-knows-what manner of dastardly deeds in my name, without any supervision whatsoever. And why would lowfolk be hurt? They had nothing to do with this ... did they? Annoying as they were, they were still mostly innocent, and besides - their lifespans were so short, none of them would ever remain a problem for long.

"I don't understand why you can't just help on your own initiative," I finally said. "You don't need any authorization from me, and quite frankly I don't want my conscience stained by whatever it is you might do."