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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jun 19, 2011 3:22:11 GMT -5
"You and I both know that even the most thought-out plan can go wrong, just by simply being authorized when they shouldn't have," Kayt shot back, returning her gaze to the training match. Her eyes were darting to every spellcaster and every bit of magic used against the zombies. "One mistake and you'll have thousands dead. Our alliance cannot survive such a blunder, and the vultures in Stamaria are always circling. I'd've thought you'd work to prevent such a thing from happening again, instead of accelerating it."
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 19, 2011 3:40:50 GMT -5
Donovan opened his mouth to reply, and then paused for a brief second, his eyes locked on Kayt. Something about her tone, the phrasing of her words. She was hinting at something, he was sure of it.
His eyes immediately darted to Ms. B, she seemed intent on the training match, but he knew the small creature. She presented a child-like demeanor right up until she was biting out your aorta. It was all a clever ruse, taking advantage of her decidedly stuffed-animal-like state, putting people at ease. Underneath it all, he knew for a fact there was a razor-sharp intelligence always looking to get ahead and do what was best for her siblings and their keepers. She would gladly sit by and let the world burn if it suited her, and more frightening yet, she'd gladly burn it down herself.
If she'd picked up on Kayt's hints, she gave no clue to it. Though the blasted creature, like all of her siblings, had an amazing poker-face, Donovan thought with distaste.
His eyes focused back on Kayt, a brief half-second of hesitation flashing across them before the ice returned. "Well then, Royal Advisor," he replied, his tone suddenly tired, "Let's hope I don't make a mistake."
In the field, the two undead and the pair or Tydorians clashed in a silent flurry. Even Donovan was impressed by the diminutive warrior's fighting prowess as they seemed to flow up and around the undead.
One of the Tydorians swung round to the back of the Orc, who immediately tried to claw the small creature off its back. There was a sickening "slich" sound as the Tydorian drew a large knife from a sheath hidden in its fur and with a ferocious show of strength, decapitated the Orc. It then kicked backwards off the undead and resumed the steady walk towards the remaining four undead and the human in their ranks. The second Tydorian quickly joined the first, having damaged the other Orc in a violent maneuver that left the creature flopping on the ground, trying to chase after them.
There was a "whoosh" and a "whump" as the two trailing Elves destroyed the crippled undead. A blast of ice from one Elf finished off the headless Orc, and a strange black mist from the other Elf slammed into the other target, eating away and dissolving the corpse with rapid efficiency.
Donovan felt Lieutenant Anders shiver at the sight, and in truth he himself was disturbed by the experience. He surmised it was Ms. B reminding him, and the Royal Advisor, that this was her playground.
"here be monsters, indeed." He muttered softly.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jun 19, 2011 4:12:14 GMT -5
The change in Winter's demeanor, the flicker of doubt in his eyes did not go unnoticed by the advisor, She could see that she had landed a direct hit on the man's ego. Now she knew she was walking on the fine line that her sister so often ignored outright. She turned her gaze away from the General and back to the grisly spectacle unfolding before her, a tightened frown of distaste.
"You may already have," she said neutrally. "You just haven't seen the signs like I have."
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 19, 2011 15:28:40 GMT -5
Donovan was silent, her words struck a cord within him. He knew very well that it was possible he was so close to the situation that he couldn't see what was going wrong. Ms. B, however, called out over her shoulder to Kayt, amusement plain in her voice.
"Advisor, what mistake has the dear general made, exactly? I confess to only being a small, insignificant creature in the grand scheme of things, but even to me it's as clear as this afternoon sun that Stamaria will start a war against your lovely little alliance of nations." The small creature gave a grunt of approval as her Tydorian pairs easily (and viciously) defeated the remaining undead.
"It may take them a decade to start it, but a war is coming, plain as day. So if it's coming, I'd think you would want to start it on your terms, not on Aurinar's."
there was a cry of pain from the field as the human (who apparently had been controlling the undead) was brought to the ground by the Tydorians. A loud crack following by another scream indicated some bone in his body had been broken. Without a word, the Tydorians each took up one of the boy's arms, now hanging limply, and began dragging him forcefully towards Ms. B.
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jun 19, 2011 16:39:24 GMT -5
Kayt's eyes were like ice as she regarded General Winter, and she kept her eyes locked with his as Ms. Button asked her question. It was time to use her final weapon in this verbal battle.
"If you must know, then you'll have to ask the General about the winter of 84 S.R.," she answered coolly, though she did not look at the Tydorian as she did so. "Ask him what happened during Castles of Sand."
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 19, 2011 20:28:10 GMT -5
There was the slightest intake of breath from Donovan at the mention of "that" particular operation. His eyes widened even further when there was a burst of laughter from Ms. B.
"That?!" The small, black-eyed creature chortled merrily, turning 'round as she did so. "That's what you're going to hold over the dear general's head as proof that he's going down the wrong path?"
Donovan stared in shock at the small creature. For the Royal Advisor to know about Operation Castles of Sand was nearly impossible, but within her grasp. For the small furry creature who led a band of magical misfit monsters to know about it? That seemed truly impossible. And yet . . . he was sure by Button's tone that she wasn't lying or joking, she knew about the operation, she knew about his horrible mistake. Somehow . . . impossible as it seemed, she knew.
And what was worse? He could sense the terrifying approval of what he had done all those years ago. She probably considered it one of his highlights.
Button's next words confirmed his fears, "My dear Royal Advisor," the small creature chided. "Why do you think I've thrown my lot in with the good general? Castles of Sand is one of the things I like most about Donovan. He's not afraid of making the tough call."
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Post by The Rising Dragon on Jun 19, 2011 20:38:06 GMT -5
Kayt kept silent, knowing that regardless of what Button thought of the occurrences or the consequences of Castles of Sand, the good General Winter had received her message and the meaning behind it. The two regarded each other with icy gazes.
After several moments, Kayt nodded, knowing that she'd more than likely outstayed her welcome. "This is a dangerous game you're playing, General Winter," she said in a short tone. "Do not think I will not put a stop to it if I find out that you risk bringing everything down around her heads."
She gave a short bow to both the General and his associates before turning and leaving, with her escort following shortly after.
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Post by Steinerman on Jun 19, 2011 21:22:44 GMT -5
Donovan bowed stiffly as Kayt left, but was otherwise silent, his mind racing down the paths of possibility.
Meanwhile, Button had walked out to her two siblings, who dropped the human they'd been dragging. She knelt and looked straight into the boy's eyes. "Noah," she said calmly, "do you understand now?"
The boy was terrified, shivering and shaking as though he were in a blizzard. But he nodded all the same.
Button caressed his cheek with the back of one of her furry paws. "Calm yourself, child, this was a lesson, nothing more. The broken arm was meant merely to focus you on the task at hand. Do you understand the lesson we taught you?"
Noah's brow furrowed in concentration before he finally spoke. "Teamwork." The boy replied softly, the shakes subsiding as he began to realize he wasn't in danger.
"yes, Teamwork." Button agreed. "You scoffed at it, saying you would take on the whole world by yourself. We have to give this lesson to everyone, Noah. You're a fine necromancer, one of the best we have, but if you don't act as part of the team, the world will kill you."
The boy nodded again, understanding in his eyes. "I think I understand, ma'am." He replied.
Button nodded, "Good, you're one of us, Noah, we want only the best for you. We'll get you to the doctors, they'll patch you up." With that, she turned and waddled back to Donovan.
"Well, the Royal Advisor is quite charming, I think." Button said conversationally as though she hadn't just chided a young necromancer. "A bit naive, maybe, but that will pass with time, assuming she survives long enough."
Donovan grunted in reply, still thinking. Finally, he spoke, "you missed her point," he stated. "She wasn't trying to say that the same mistakes will happen again, she was saying she would be able to find out about our operations. Castles of Sand has no records, I don't know how she found out about it." He glared down at Button, "how in the world did you find out about it?" He questioned.
Button shrugged, "I know many things," she replied enigmatically. "And no, I didn't miss her point at all. But it suited the situation just fine for her to think I did."
Donovan shook his head in disbelief, everything was a mind-game with Ms. B. "Still, what do you think we should do about her?" He questioned curiously.
"There's only one way to deal with her." Button stated simply.
There was a silence as Donovan stared in shock at her, "We're not killing her." He stated with finality.
Button rolled her eyes, "My word, General, of course we're not going to kill her. That would be shoddy and incompetent while at the same time drawing too much attention to us. No," she said as though speaking to a child, "We're not going to kill her. We're going to read her into the operation."
Donovan's eyes widened as he thought about it, "That could work. Make her see our point of view, or something like that?"
Button shrugged, "whatever you like, she's far less likely to cause trouble once she knows most of the picture."
He thought about it for a few more minutes before nodding his head, "agreed, I'll read her into it." He said, "your advice is always appreciated, Button."
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