[ is dextera suggesting that berkut answer to him? how preposterous. dextera, a . . . a god.

he frowns. this will take some time to digest. ]

If it would please you, I suppose I can. But I should warn you that I may simply choose not to, once this curse has run its course.

[ berkut isn't stupid, nor has he forgotten their encounters up till now. he knows that this—whatever this is—won't last. on an intellectual level, he knows he's not supposed to tolerate dextera's presence. ]