Chapter 1: Willowdark, a Village Repressed

"We wait, we plan. Decide quickly and let's move." She stands and begins to pace. Being cooped up in this room is testing her patience (what little of it she has).

Kaio was beginning to like Xaar, but this impatience is galling him. "'The blind man who walks quickly falls into a pit.' So my master used to say." Kaio says. "While we should proceed with speed, "decide quick" solely for the sake of action is most unwise."

"From the sound of it," Kaio says slowly, "We cannot act until this Notter has come and gone. For that, the woodland towards the mountains seems our best option. We can deal with beasts - perhaps the action will calm our restless friend's blood."

"Do I look blind to you?" Xaar stares Kaio down incredulously before turning her attention back to Genevieve. "Mountains. Freedom. I can take care of any beasts that dare threaten us and everyone can continue making their plans."

Kaio raises an eyebrow in disbelief at Xaar's literal interpretation of an obviously analogical saying. "Yes. You are blind. We are all 'blind' until we know more of this place," he says, trying to keep from imparting his view of Xaar's intelligence through his voice.

"I'm more of a city-dweller, myself. But, a city this is not; I could almost fit it in the palm of my hand. And if the wilderness keeps us out of Notter's crosshairs for a day, and cools Xaar's heels," Rixon shoots a disapproving look at Xaar, "it seems our best option."

Rixon gives another grateful nod to Genevieve. "My concern is that things will go poorly while we are away. I know we have direct orders to avoid Notter, but, well, it rankles. His 'collection' visits... how does it usually go down?"

"Honestly, from the sound of it, everyone would be better off if he were dead, and I'd love nothing more than to deliver that. But if he's as ruthless as you say, we'd do well to wait for a better opening. Blind, indeed."

"Notter is as good as dead. I will have his head myself when the time is right, after we've taken his men and everything else of value from him." She gives Kaio a look of contempt as she takes out her greataxe and polishes its already gleaming surface. She's done with words. What they need now is action.

Had this been a different time, she would have admired Notter's ruthlessness. It is, after all, a great thing to be feared by lesser men. It will be a worthy match when they meet on the battlefield- there will be much glory in it!

"Ha! Unless I remove it first." Rixon offers Xaar a wink and a sly grin. He is glad to know that his recent associates have no qualms about spilling blood when it is deserved.

If you lot are so set upon death, then let us be smart about it. Plan a trap at the very least... Geran sighs, and eats his supper.

Kaio has already finished his dinner and he pushes his plate towards Rixon. To Genieveve he nods his head in a small bow, then says "Thank you very much for this meal. It was most delicious." Turning back to the others, he stands. "It seems we have come to a decision. While putting Notter beyond this world may be our ultimate goal, all we can do for now is fantasize and we can do that just as well as we walk. We should move to the forest."

The warlock wipes his mouth after finishing his dish, Delicious, thank you. he offers a warm smile to his host and pitches in another opinion, I'm going to stick with Kaio on this one. Our orders were to liberate the town, not get ourselves killed by Notter. His time will come, but we should focus on the task at hand.

"I agree with Geran. We should focus on liberating the town, then investigate Notter."

Rixon leans from his chair and grabs his pair of scabbarded rapiers from where they had been leaning in the corner. As he stands, he slings them across his back and adjusts the leather straps across his chest.

Right, so. Two groups of three? Let's see what can be seen. And try not to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for Notter and his men to follow. They shouldn't know we're here.

"I'll lead the first group. Who's with me?"