The Eye of Anubis: Book Ten

[Kaitou Kage]

"It had to have been Jervis who killed the Professor," the priest reaffirmed for Marcos's benefit. "I examined the body myself. Four stab wounds with a hunting knife. The first thrust killed him immediately by crushing his lungs. The other three must have been for show. Jervis was not the only person that had the strength, but he was the only one with a reason to. Captain Harris mentioned that he caught the other group leaving and Jervis nearly killed him."

Kuzan folded his arms over his chest and drummed his fingers on his arm, thinking. "Pelletier had been taking the poison in his medicines without realizing it was poison. I don't know who -- what is the word -- prescribed them. Some time after I helped him recover, shadow beasts began attacking us and I think Jervis decided he could stop the shadows by killing Pelletier." The priest frowned.

"He must have been right since there were no more shadows since," he added disconcertedly. "I suspect most of the others were dupes in Samael's plot. I can't say how much he actually intends to give them, but I imagine he's somehow convinced them we're too...I don't know, untrustworthy, I guess, to go along with. In the letter he left, he basically said that's why he left us behind. Truth is, he probably just said that to us -- and maybe some of the others -- to try and make it sound like a justified decision. At any rate, I think it's safe to say he's not acting with any intention of really doing what this Expedition set out to do. He's in it for some kind of personal gain."

[NeoTiamat]

Vedarrak's Office, Falkovnian Headquarters, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 26th, 761, 4:12 PM; Day 162 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"Ah yes..... 'Jervis' Dilisnya." Vedarrak nodded thoughtfully. Something about Andre and Kuzan's story seemed to fit logically to him. "We have quite a dossier on him as well. Very well then, I am guessing that is all?"

"In that case, I believe the immediate interview is over. Sorry for the discomfort, but some things are best done quickly." Kommandant Marcos Vedarrak said apologetically. The Falkovnian considered matters for a moment. "Gunther, take the Expedition outside to meet M'sieu Martel and the others. Tell Lebrecht to take them to their quarters if they so wish it."

"Also... Andre? Would you stay here for a few minutes? I've a few more niggling questions, but Martel is correct, the rest of you must be very tired."

It was phrased as a request. It wasn't.

[OOC: Alright, everyone but Andre moves outside, where you can talk amongst yourselves, or to Mandisa or Lebrecht. When you're done there, ask Lebrecht and he'll take you to your quarters.

Andre, if you could arrange an RP with me post-haste, that would be extremely convenient.]

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Ah, guten tag once more. The Kommandant let you out in one piece, I see?" Lieutenant Lebrecht said with a quick, cynical smile. "I hope your luck continues."

"So do I," Charles says, grinning. "It would be a shame to have it run out now. It was quite a shock to see you, not to mention the Kommandant--he was at our sending-off in Port-a-Lucine, and I'd no idea we would find him here. Why, you must have set out more or less when we did, and we've been on the road for months!"

"Still, I cannot argue. A dismal land for horses. A dismal land in general." Lebrecht gave that quicksilver smile once more. "Since you seem to be of the survivors, let me introduce myself more properly. Cavalry Lieutenant Lebrecht Schiffer, of the Kingfuhrer's First Dragoons. You are a horseman as well, I think."

"Charles Martel," Charles replies, offering his hand. "I'm a bit of a horseman, although I don't suppose a cavalry officer would be too impressed. I'm the only one of the Expedition members who can do more than keep his seat, really...I suppose you noticed as we rode in. I was born to it, you might say; my first drink was a thimbleful of stallion's blood, or so they tell me. My father was consul to Nova Vaasa at the time, it's a custom there. Have you been in Muhar long?"

[DocBeard]

"Lia, are you allright with Charles?" Tomas asks sincerely, gesturing behind him. "I can go try and find our rooms real quick."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"He will suffice," Lia replies, as she pulls out her cane and leans on it. "If he manages to pry himself free from the Falkovnian hetman, that is," she adds in a mutter pitched only for Tomas' ears.

[NeoTiamat]

Courtyard, Falkovnian Headquarters, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 26th, 761, 4:17 PM; Day 162 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"Well." Professor Carter said heavily as you entered the courtyard. Spotting Lia and Tomas, the Mordentish academic waved them over. "This rather puts the cat among the pigeons."

"Hope Professor Theroux will be alright..." Remy said quietly. The youth looked around the courtyard, glancing at the guards on the wall. "Hope we'll all be alright."

===============================================

"Vaasi-trained?" Lebrecht's eyebrows rose as he took Charles's hand. "I was posted with the Falkovnian embassy to Kantora from '51 to '56. Ambassador Ferdinand Ebert's entourage, do you know of him?"

"Kantora was rather better a posting, though." Lieutenant Schiffer waved a hand around Muhar. "I have been stationed in five countries now, and this week in Muhar has been dullest. A month of relays across the Core, two weeks at sea, and then another month and half of trudging through sand. Our reward? To be be confined to headquarters whenever not out riding patrols."

"I had not thought there was a posting drearier than Ludendorf, but I have found one." Lebrecht gave a wry smile. "A soldier's luck knows no limits, ja?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Has anyone bothered to count how many Falkovnians we've seen so far?" Lia asks quietly, trying to pitch her voice for the ears of the other members of the Expedition, only. "That might be useful knowledge if it comes to ... unpleasantness right here in Muhar. We might also like to find out whether there is any organized resistance left among the Akiri and try to link up with them, unless everyone wants to lead this lot right to Menetnashte's cenotaph."

[Kaitou Kage]

"I don't understand," Kuzan frowned, "You're worried about staging some kind of rebellion now when Cavendish is probably here enjoying what's going on and making plans to mess us up. Shouldn't we be worried about him?"

"Besides," the priest added, "Cavendish has been out to attack the Expedition. If he does attack us, these soldiers will likely prove useful allies. Unless you would like to take the necromancer head-on by yourself. And I have to say, Lia, you wouldn't survive against him."

"We have a saying in Sri Raji: मेरे दुश्मन का दुश्मन मेरा दोस्त है. I think you call it, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I am well aware that I am no match for Cavendish, thank you," Lia replies to Kuzan, her voice devoid of heat. "But tell me, what do you know about Falkovnians? This lot could serve as cannon fodder if Cavendish attacks -- or they might use us as living shields. Or the villagers. And perhaps you have forgotten what happened in Phiraz? Cavendish could already be among the Falkovnians, masquerading as one of them, and using them as living tools instead of his usual undead ones, to commit atrocities and ensnare us."

[Kaitou Kage]

"I'm not going to get into an argument with you about this," Kuzan replied simply, "So I will just say this. First, I have not forgotten what happened. Second, you are trying to make plans when you don't really know what's going on. Like you often do, you assume you know the situation and try to act based on assumptions. That gets people killed. Whether you hate these people or not, you need to get a grip and assess the matter instead of trying to take action right away. Stop focusing on how much you hate these foreigners and start worrying about what is actually happening here."

He gestured toward the building they'd just come from. "The Ambassador said that there were 'incidents' when they arrived. I doubt he'd lie about that, whatever other sins he bears. So take a deep breath, calm down, and let's see what these 'incidents' are. There's nothing to make plans on or take action on right now."

Through it all, his voice remained calm, though there was a little bit of a brimming storm beneath the surface.

[DocBeard]

Tomas's spider senses are tingling, but he's got a plan and he is going to do it. He's going to do it!

He's going to talk to the Akari girl! It takes Tomas a minute to find Mandisa, which also gives Eisenwald the time he needs to put his best 'simple, kind fellow' grin on. "Um, hallo?" Tomas asks contritely, "Miss? I am sorry to be bothering you, but may I be having a moment of your time?"

[Nathan of the FoS]

"I had not thought there was a posting drearier than Ludendorf, but I have found one." Lebrecht gave a wry smile. "A soldier's luck knows no limits, ja?"

"No lower limits, anyway," Charles says, half-smiling. He notices, from the corner of his eye, that Lia and Kuzan have worked themselves into another spat, and that no-one has gone to talk to Man...oh, wait, there goes Tomas! Good fellow, Tomas. If anyone can convince the Akiri girl that these newcomers are decent, upright people, it is Tomas--nothing conveys an impression of goodwill so well as the real thing.

"I'm not sure you would say trained," Charles continues. "I lived there 'til I was six or thereabouts, and I don't remember learning to ride at all--they had me on a pony from the time I could walk. After we moved back to Dementlieu I rode less, of course, and after my father was posted to Hazlan, less still...the Hazlani look down just a bit on horse-riding as a pastime. I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting the Ambassador; certainly your posting was well after my time. You've been immured in headquarters, then? Trouble with the locals?"

[lostboy]

So take a deep breath, calm down, and let's see what these 'incidents' are. There's nothing to make plans on or take action on right now."

Sascha had been attempting to diffuse the violent rage within himself, and ignore the escalating row but that last comment pushed exactly the wrong button with the Knight.

"You think these 'incidents' were trivial enough to warrant that!" He growls thrusting a mailed finger towards the gates and the staked corpses beyond.

Suddenly aware of the volume of his voice and he takes a deep breath. Forcibly settling his temper with a shake of his head, he continues in a more measured (and quieter) tone. "Yes we need to ascertain the situation, but trust me priest there is no reason they can give that justifies such cruelty. "

[Kaitou Kage]

"I'm not trying to justify anything," Kuzan assured Sascha, "But we've gotten in big trouble a lot of times because we let ourselves completely miss the big picture. I bet that's why the Conspiracy got away with what it has. Too busy expecting the professor to do something that nobody really noticed Samael and his cronies. That's the kind of mistake we can't afford to make again."

[lostboy]

"Fine! I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments, headlong charging is best reserved for the heat of battle." Sascha nods in acquiensence displaying an incredible propensity for mood swings. "But let us build a picture quickly, the stench of vileness in this place is sickening."

"Will they let us out I wonder?" he muses looking towards the gates.