Day Four [Lorki/Open]

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Good news, Cap'n," he paused, "I've gathered tha' those woodlanders there are mighty.... illusive. An' deadly when they're not, eh? Well, yer shy otta opened up a bit jus' now, an' I think I got a pretty clear destination fer their new camp. I suppose it must be a bit difficult fer all yer scouts to see it, ma'm, what with all o' their gaurds hidin' out there...." He trailed off and leaned forward a bit, "y'know, otta mentioned they've grown, mentioned allies."

She let him prattle on, her attention back on the papers at her desks, she was reading reports this time. She glanced up when he mentioned allies, then returned to the tallies of food and other supplies. “Got them at the beginning of autumn. Sixty odd hares under the Badgerlady of Salamandastron, the White terror of the North, fortunately without her crew.” She put the paper to the side, looking up and studying the young creature before her. Handsome, even with that bloodied lip. Hm.

He fell silent and leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. "What d'ya think, Cap'n, think they're gettin' ready fer somethin'? I'm sure I can get more outta that beast, if y'want."

“Winter is setting in,” She pointed out. “My scouts tell me they’re camped in the middle of the forest now, Vulpix only knows why.” She stood abruptly in a faint rustle of silk against silk. Sauntering around the desk, she perched on the edge and appraised Kutiel. “Did you get that bloody lip fighting the other guards?” Surely that trembling little otter couldn’t have done it.

[lorki]

Kutenai couldn't help but be annoyed a bit that she seemed to know most of the information he had already 'gathered.' How was he ever suppose to convince her to go along with her plans if he couldn't impress her? He'd wished she was stupid, like the old fort Captain he'd heard of. Oh well, that Tirael had better come up with a good lie he could sell her soon. Information was leverage, but if she had so much why wasn't she acting on it yet? He figured she must be missing something, he'd just have to figure out what it was. She'd get it.

“Did you get that bloody lip fighting the other guards?”

So she'd noticed... that was something. He let the pompous smirk return and lifted a paw to gently touch the spot, as if reminding himself what she was referring to. "No, M'am." He looked at her with a raised brow, "tha' otta let somethin' 'bout 'is sister slip, I guess I must'a upset 'im a bit too much..."

He stopped, for a moment he was unsure of what to say next, he could offer to try again with Tirael, give the otter time to think up a decent lie- but he'd given her nothing she wanted to know. He would have to look worth now, rather than wait. "Actually, Cap'n Lorna, while tryin' t'make me feel bad for 'im, the otta mentioned starvin'- said the camp had no food, not once they had to move out in the open. An' the way he looked when I talked about their leader... looked pretty damn uneasy, I'll tell you that."

He leaned back, "Hope yew don't mind me sayin', but if I were you Cap'n, I'd go after 'em as soon as possible."

[Treble Tiderunner]

"No, M'am." He looked at her with a raised brow, "tha' otta let somethin' 'bout 'is sister slip, I guess I must'a upset 'im a bit too much..."

She raised an eyebrow elegantly. “I see.” She inspected the leg of her pants, picking a few small bits of lint off the fine silk with graceful fingers. The bits of lint drifted slowly into a wooden bucket sitting to the side of her desk.

"Actually, Cap'n Lorna, while tryin' t'make me feel bad for 'im, the otta mentioned starvin'- said the camp had no food, not once they had to move out in the open. An' the way he looked when I talked about their leader... looked pretty d**n uneasy, I'll tell you that."

He leaned back, "Hope yew don't mind me sayin', but if I were you Cap'n, I'd go after 'em as soon as possible."

“Do you?” She slid down from her desk, walking around the seated ferret. She padded swiftly to the corner cabinet, opening a door and removing a glass and a bottle. “Wine?” she inquired, pausing only a moment before removing a second glass and pouring the wine. “Anything else?”

[lorki]

Kutenai watched casually as Lorna moved to the cabinet. When asked he only offered a slight nod, knowing his response wouldn't be taken too seriously by the Captain.... as she was already pouring the wine.

“Anything else?”

For a moment he considered, but of course any more would start to seem suspicious. "No, Cap'n, nothin' else from tha otter." He paused, cast a glace back at her, "but I'll be glad t'try an' get more otta 'im, if yew like. Or help y'plan anythin', Cap'n. Fear is always the weak point, Ma'm, that's what my group would say. An' I know all 'bout that, if y'be needing it, Cap'n."

So he'd done what he could. One way, he'd strike her curiosity and have a fighting chance at some success with this... or none. But she was a fearsome creature, that was for sure, rarely would a beast like that give up a chance to become that much more powerful. Fear... yes, he understood fear. Not because he used it on others... no, it certainly used him, and he knew it well. Well enough to at least speak of it in theory, carry it regularly without much regard to it's putrescence... oh, he had fear all figured out.

And really, he thought as he watched the Captain, it was sad his false plan for her Fort was all lies. It really could have worked... and well, too. But, those were the sort of ideas that got him backhanded by his sister... the spiteful assassin that killed almost everything that moved to quickly towards her... funny world.