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Celi

Celi rapidly drifted closer to Mikal, hoping to lend him moral support -- not that he necessarily needed it. She had the odd thought that being able to communicate with him like she did Stormrunner would be useful, if a little too intimate.

She would have touched his arm to let him know, if she hadn't feared embarrassing him.

Cesare

He nods to Dama Kelleni, acknowledging her agreement before turning to the others.

"We can maybe spend time in here in small groups, getting sleep, ready to leave tonight. Other groups can make a more public show of normality."

He offers a further suggestion.

Bekkah

"I'm pretty sure I can leave anytime. I can always spend the night at the temple. It's probably not a bad idea that I spend a night there anyways."

Daxia
with the Gang, Elise and Samara in Captain Koromov's Room

"What we know: we must leave before dawn, and be far enough away from Cragside so Shannon's troops do not see us the on road when they leave The Rock." Daxia stood relaxed beside Kadri, hands clasped loosely behind her back. "We must move Elise's ore from its current location to Dama Samara's adjacent warehouses; this must be done after dark when the eyes of the watchers have returned to their homes and Inns. We are not cargo handlers; likely this process will take much of night, da? Cesare's suggestion of getting sleep during the day is certainly one I plan to follow, as I slept very little last night. But as many as possible should be seen doing ordinary things."

She turned to look at Bekkah. "Visiting the Hospice during the day would be a good idea, but you will need to spend the night with us I'm afraid." She smiled at her sister. "Had I tried to slip out of the Temple a candlemark or more before Her rising, I'm sure Kassia would have somehow managed to be at the door before me. I have a feeling Lady Alice has that in common with Priestess Kassia, da?" she looked around the room again at the others.

"There might be some value in moving Lisica, Fern and Talia to Dama Samara's warehouse closer to the gate; or we could simply bring them with us to the warehouse where we will be working. Once we leave the Inn tonight, I think it best if we do not return."

Kadri:

"For me. . ordinary things would be patrolling warehouses. . ."

Mikal

"I will get some rest during the day if we're going to be working thru the early part of the night and traveling through the late part. Don't see a problem with bringing the horses to the warehouse. We haven't ridden them during the daytime inside the town so no one associates them specifically with us. In fact, perhaps Dama Kelleni can take them with her when she leaves? Will give her an excuse for having come here in the first place, purchasing mounts?"

Darian

"Rest when can good thing. Winter harsh outside walls."

She turned then to Mikal. "Would guard let Hunter pass to bring back fresh meat?"

Mikal

"No one in or out is what I was told." He replies. "Don't think they're open to making exceptions." He shrugs. "You can always ask. Don't see the harm in it."

He turns to Cesare. "I think you said you might be able to find a way out besides using the gate? Perhaps those without mounts should take that route with you? That will leave just we three riders, and we'll be able to move faster alone. We can meet up with you outside the town, somewhere along the trail."

He glances to Daxia. "Or we can stick together. Just a thought."

Cesare

"I'm willing to try. I know the sort of things to look for but I will need to spend time looking.. alone or maybe with one other. No point in attracting attention. No guarantees I'll find a way in the hours left either.."

It could be worth the effort though.

"Even if we decide to go together, if things take an unexpected turn, it could provide a fallback for us."

Darian

"We go with you," Darian volunteers to Cesare. "Already we be seen together. If needed, can be ..."

She pauses, thinking how to say something that she had come to understand was not as accepted in the cities.

"...behave more friendly..."

She looked to Cesare to see if he understood what she was attempting to say.

<Lia>

She had started to open her mouth once or twice but stopped.

Finally she said carefully, "The same arguments against trickling out would appear to apply to breaking up to exit as well."

She shrugged again, "That being said I could go to market or stay here during the day."

Daxia
with the Gang, Elise and Samara in Captain Koromov's Room

"Oh ho! Mikal not listen again!" Daxia said, grinning at him and shaking her head. "What your Killian say? Use two ears, yes? Work all night, or most. Travel candlemark, maybe two, before She rise... all morning at least, maybe longer. And Dama Samara have reason to be here," she said, gesturing to the merchant. "Kadri need important discussion about Samuel warehouse. Dama Samara take Fern, who carry saddle and all Dazi gear?" She paused a heartbeat before saying, as she tapped her chin, "Ah! Mikal maybe?" She wagged the finger at him, still grinning, and said, "Someday you hear everything Dazi say... Dazi fall over in shock, yes?" She clasped her hands behind her back again. "But ace idea if Kadri not working for Dama Samara." She gave him a single sharp nod, then looked between Darian and Cesare several times, and finally shrugged.

"You think maybe another way through, over, under wall," she said to Cesare, "why not try, yes? Maybe find nothing, maybe find something. You, Darian, Longtooth out in town being seen... this good. Pretend to... court, I think what Darian mean." Again, she shrugged and smiled. "You three smart... you do what seem right."

Finally, she turn to Lia and regarded her for a few moments.

Cesare

He grins at Darian, very happy with her suggestion.

"Have respect for you and Longtooth. Always welcome. And with Longtooth's nose, think our chances of finding a way out are greater."

They have worked well together. Both have a determination and a single-mindedness about what they do and their skills seem to compliment each others.

"I suggest we start now.. though Lia and I want to talk to the captain today and maybe we should see when is convenient first? I expect we will need to go out a few times, reporting back here in between and covering different areas each time."

He pauses.

"We should also maybe think about after we leave. I think we have people here who can hunt.." he smiles at Darian "..and forage and are used to travelling. But hunting takes time and that might not be something we have. So we need to get supplies in a way that doesn't raise suspicions. Perhaps others could do that? We will also be moving at walking pace, pace of slowest. We can go off road though.. I can always find the right path."

The last is offered in a matter of fact way, not boastful but confident.

Darian

"Court?" she murmurs as Dazi' mentions it, then remembers the villagers mentioning it. It was different among the Pack, but similar. "Yes, court is it."

Her return half smile, while smaller than Cesare's grin, is no less true and honest. She nods and offers a simple "Aye" at his mention of hunting.

"We be ready when you ready."

Celi

Celi suppressed the shivery thrill of abandonment she felt when Mikal relegated her to the herd.

That was somewhat demeaning, she thought, a function of the automatic arrogance of horse owners. It didn't matter that she could ride; she didn't have a horse. It helped soothe her to know there were quite possibly others in the same straits.

She made herself set all such annoyance aside. Clearly, If she was going to help these folk it would be easiest if they were: one, together; and two, on the outside.

Mikal and Daxia seemed to be working to that same end; so she was just going to have to suck it up, ignore any real or phantom irritations, and do whatever was required of her to smooth the group's reassembly outside.

"Mikal, I think you are already headed this way, but I should say that I can best protect our folk outside, if they are grouped together. No ... stragglers, especially horsemen, who might be considered ... fair game."

Mikal

He shrugs towards Daxia as if the answer is obvious, a corner of his lip twitching upwards in the ghost of a smile. "I am sure Dama Samara is used to hiring boys to carry things. Would not be strange at all for a couple of them to carry saddles and equipment with her as well as lead the horses to the warehouse. Give them our extra gear and let them walk with her."

When Celi comments, he nods seriously, not contesting at all her contention that she would be able to protect the group. "My main concern, Celi, is pursuit. If those on foot leave first and get a head start, those on horseback can catch up with them and meet up further down the road. Will also put us further away should the Mark Cavalry come riding after us."

"If Cesare can find an exit, you and they can stop work and leave close to when the Silver Lady crosses the Wolf (roughly midnight). Head towards where we camped. Move off the road there to a place of concealment and wait for us. We three", indicating Daxia, Kadri, and himself, "will leave when the Hunter passes the Silver Lady (a few hours before sunrise). We should catch up to you about that same spot so you shouldn't need to wait long."

He glances back to Daxia, with the same slight smile. "Or not."

Lia

She watched the coversation progress and listened. When Daxia turned her attention to her and stared for several moment, Lia shrugged slightly, picked up whatever it was she'd been standing before on the table and walked out the door. A slight tightening of her lips was the only other physical expression she made.

If there were words that came after those moments of regard, she was no longer there.

She murmured a polite "excuse me," to Samara before opening the door and exiting.

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise and Samara in Captain Koromov's room

Lia walked out of the room as she was about to speak... moving past several people and forcing Samara out of the way. Daxia stared after her in shock, mouth open. She blinked several times and snapped her mouth closed, not having actually heard anything said until Mikal addressed her.

She pulled her attention back to him, brows furrowed. "What?"

Mikal

"My not listening must be contagious I guess", he chuckles. "I just suggested how Dama Samara could get our tack and gear to the warehouse and how we could meet up outside the town if Cesare finds another way out of town for those on foot."

He shrugs. "Nothing important."

He raises an eyebrow. "Did you and she have the same boyfriend at one point?" He nods towards the exiting Camelia.

Daxia
with the Gang and Elise and Samara in Captain Koromov's room

Still looking completely baffled, Daxia said, "Dazi never even HAVE boyfriend. Dazi SO confused." She rubbed her forehead for a moment, then took a deep breath and sighed. And then she shook her head. "We all get rest today... no one go out alone, ok? All be back here by sunset, yes?" Looking around again, she shrugged. "That plan. Think maybe Dama Samara like to return to her business, maybe Captain like her room back, yah? Know Dazi need more sleep."

The Heartwood
Early Morning, the Town of Cragside
Rameday The First Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Camelia, Celi, Cesare, Kadri, Daxia, Bekkah, Mikah and Darian and Longtooth

Samara blinked, her head tilting quietly, as she was ooshed out of the way for the departing handmaiden.

" ... passingly strange."

Is her whisper as she leveled her gaze over those remaining in the room. Pushing herself to a stand she considered the schemes rippling across the room.

"Your Jvrillian has the right of it. The gates will only open once, and sometime after breakfast is about all you can hope before the Shannons ask just what in Kryata's name is happening in their town."

She then looked to Elisa, nodding.

"And don't worry. I can apprentice you until this all dies down and its safe to sell the steel .. because that is one thing that's very misunderstood."

She turned to Mikal, chuckling.

"I have no boys or men to hire. I back others, do not trade or myself.

"My wealth isn't in speculation lad.

"It's in real estate."

She then opened the door for herself.

"The best plans are simple ones. And you don nyi have to like each other ... to work together well, aye? you don't learn that skill, you will not survive out here in the real world.

"Kadri ... you did well and it was fun.

"But we both knew from day one it wasn't forever."

She stepped out, ushering Elisa with her.

"Sunset will be coming soon ... time to play, ne-pah?"

And then she and her apprentice took their leave.

Celi with Cesare et.al.

Celi nodded briefly to Mikal's recap, taking it as instruction. She ghosted across the floor to Cesare, and gazed solemnly into his eyes.

"So then ... you have a way out on foot, early dark? Get us outside and I will get us to a safe place where we can bide until the riders catch up to meet us. I will provide a safe escort, if you will manage the exit."

Clearly, Celi had changed since her brief tour outside the wall in the company of Mikal; she was calm and self-confident, and showed none of the nervous mannerisms she had displayed when first he had encountered her.

Daxia
with the Gang in Captain Koromov's Room

She watched Celi's interaction with Cesare, a hint of a smile crossing her face before turning to Bekkah. "Maybe you find out what that about, yes?" Daxia said, pointing towards the door, indicating Lia's abrupt departure. "I go thank Captain for room, get sleep. All you stay safe, no one alone, ok?" She turned to quieter-than-usual Kadri. "You want go out, stay with Bekkah, yes? Don't want to worry over new friend, ok?" she said with a tired smile.

Bekkah

"I'd better talk to her. Before it's too late." she said getting up.

"I'll be back within a quarter candlemark, no more. Promise." she said giving Dazi a confident smile.

With that, she headed out the door in search of the young lady.

Cesare

He is about to suggest that he go after Lia. His conversation with the captain should include her and she might talk more to him than the others, but then Celi comes over to him and the moment is lost with others taking that role.

He'll deal with it later. Instead he turns his attention to Celi and listens to what she says.

"I think we will all be glad of any help offered. There will be some less used to travelling than others, so it is good you have skills to offer here. What are your strenths, your plans to offer assistance? We should all share this sort of knowledge to gain confidence and trust in each other."