“I’ve spent who knows how many decades chained, sitting in my own piss and shit. How do you think I am?” - the god replied.

“I’ve brought you food and wine.” - Roman said.

“If you’ve come to help an old friend, why don’t you loosen these a little bit.” - Perun said and rattled the chains - “That’ll help me out.”

“I’ve come with everything but good intentions. I’ve come to offer you a deal.”

“Oh, I hope it involves me stomping on your dead body.”

“I’ll free you if you fight with us against the empire.”

“Straight to the point, eh? You’ve gone completely mad if you expect me to do this, though. You think I’ll follow through? Why don’t I burn your army instead and give the day to the empire? I hate both of you just the same.”

“I can give you the thing you want the most.”

“The only thing I want is to be established as the main deity of your nation. And I want you stripped of your crown. I want to carry you on a leash around the capital, just like your father did with me when he chained me.”

“Is that it? Really? Vengeance? Have you thought about what will happen if we denounce the dead god? Every nation that worships him will be marching towards us in a matter of months.”

“I can hold them off.”

“Sure, you’ll hold off an invasion of plate-wearing soldiers marching on a field. What will you do with the Black House? Do you expect they’ll spare you and go on their merry way? You know this doesn’t end well. The same thing will happen if your lightning falls on us when we face the imperials. Once they’ve cleared our blood off their swords, they’ll come after you next, and the fact that lightning struck us is only going to make them more zealous. You know how they feel about natural disasters with proper timing. Your head will be on a black cloak’s horse in a week.”

“Then I guess I’ll just enjoy the company of my chains.”

“You haven’t heard my offer. I know what my father did to you was monstrous. But my hands are tied as well.” - Roman looked at the prisoner again - “At least in a figurative way. I have to finish a deed started by people I don’t know and pay for sins I haven’t committed. Win or lose, this nation will only worship one god - the dead one. But if we win, you can get your glory back. The dead god is one, but he has many saints.”

“You really are messed in the head, son. You expect me to play second fiddle to someone who died a thousand years ago?”

“I offer you to become a saint. You’ll get your churches and a temple up into the mountains with no black cloaks to bother you. A few villages worshipping you with devotion. The Black House will never know about this. We can only win if you help us, and you get out of here alive only if we help you.”

“I’ve had my share of women and worshippers, czar. Save your breath so you can beg the imperial soldiers for mercy.”

“Fair enough, I expected you to drive a hard bargain. I’ve got something else that can spark your interest.”

“And what is that?”

“I know Svarog’s whereabouts.”

The lightningbearer’s eyebrows wrinkled his forehead.

“He’s on the other side of the world by now.”

“He’s here. He made a deal with my father not that different from the one I’m offering you today. He calls himself Ogi now and makes his living as a blacksmith. If you choose to rain lightning on my enemies, I’ll tell you exactly where he’s been hiding after the baptism.”

“How do I know you won’t cross me again like you’re doing Svarog over right now?”

“He made a deal with my father, not me. You should only get worried when my son comes to power one day.”

Every man has a price to forsake his dignity, even a god. And vengeance was always more valuable than coin and women. In the long stare of the chained god, the czar recognized that he’s finally found his price. When they left the temple that day, the lightning over The Spine left with them.