Re: Vengeance or Reconciliation? (Termite)
Alex's tale would produce a number of reactions around the table. Everard would look surprised and then angry and then mollified, eventually accepting the simple truth that the orcs would take apart the militia if it came to a straight fight. Akorvick would give Alex that odd look again, the one that suggested he was seeing her in a way that surprised and intrigued him, and Ria actually mirrored that look somewhat. Aes listened intently but her reaction was rather muted, her only real response being to grimace slightly when she mentioned that she had nearly been taken as a prize by the orc leader before he had escaped. Melody simply frowned and listened, her reaction relatively uninteresting. The one whose response she was really looking for, however, was telling. Turoc listened stoically at first, but when she mentioned the company that she had once served with the man grinned.
Only for an instant, and only just, but it was the sort of smile that Alex couldn't help but recognize. Foul men had sometimes worn it when they looked at her and imagined what they might do if they had her at their mercy. It was a smile she had seen on mortal and immortal alike, the smile of a cruel heart knowing the pleasures in which it would indulge... Or in which it had indulged. Turoc knew the name at the very least, and if the glimmer of recognition in his eye was any indication he knew the Silver Legion far better than one who had simply heard of it from his fellows. Towards the end of her recounting she saw the man reach up to his beard, idly toying with one of the bones in the braids of his beard, but he would make no effort to interrupt her.
Nor would anyone else, and so Alex would be able to go on to her suggested course of action, and though it was bold and certainly dangerous, no one dismissed it out of hand. In fact, after a moment Everard would give a slight nod, "
that could work... Yes. It'd make our defense feel a little more safe if we didn't need to worry about dragons smashing the wall to kindling!" Akorvick, who had agreed with the plan of luring out the dragons in the first place, simply nodded in turn and gave a soft hum, and though she looked slightly nervous at the idea Mirabel eventually nodded as well. "
I can make sure she gets in," the mage said, "
and a distraction will definitely improve her chances, though I think we ought to be cautious about it. Anyone who gets bogged down in fighting won't be coming out alive."
Turoc gave a low bark of laughter, "
hah, you just let my boys an' I worry about that! Give us whoever you've got as a decent shot and we'll keep the linemen busy while big red over there cuts off their smart head. No promises on gettin 'er out of it, but that's for you lot to worry about."
"
What's the plan for getting her out if she can't rely on your illusion to do it?" Aes asked calmly, looking to Mirabel. "
I can hold my own," Ria began, but Akorvick interrupted her before she could continue that thought; "
Fighting the entire army is suicide. Get in and get out, fight those that get in your way only when you have to. We won't be able to do much to get you out if you get caught, we'll have our own concerns." That was spoken as a simple dire truth, and though Ria frowned at it she eventually nodded in acceptance. "
So.... That's the plan then? We deal with the dragons, she deals with the shaman, and if she doesn't make it we finish her job for her? Somehow?" Aes said, not seemingly liking the last portion of it, but gradually everyone around the table nodded.
"
She isn't the only one of us likely to die," Akorvick said calmly, to which Everard and Mirabel paled but Turoc grinned. "
We might well all be killed or captured if this plan fails," her brother continued, "
but it is the best chance that Ochre has to remained free. I will take wing and keep an eye on their progress. When they are within a day's march of the valley's mouth I will return, and the rest of you had best be ready." And with that Akorvick turned and started for the stairs, his wings already stretching in preparation of the coming flight. "
Stay safe," Melody said, speaking to his back, but there was more emotion in the old woman's voice than the pragmatic tone she masked it with suggested, and that made Akorvick slow for a half a step or so. He didn't respond, however, and instead simply left unless Alex opted to try and stop him for some purpose of her own.
"
I will prepare the militia," Everard said with a sigh, though he would turn to Alex and say; "
Thank you.... For aiding in our defense. I know that this is not necessarily your fight, but that you have made it so. Whether we come through this alive or not, the people of Ochre will be in your debt milady." And then he offered a bow to Alex, which he repeated to Dingroria and to Aescila, before he too made to take his leave.
"
Well then.... I'm afraid I'll be skipping the pleasantries of Mr. Everard," Turoc added somewhat mockingly, a wide grin on his face. "
Unless any of you ladies would care for a roll in the hay," he began, and actually paused to give Alex and her two companions a searching look as if his question was actually serious despite the joking tone in which it had been said. "
I'll be taking my leave! I've got an ambush to plan!" The thought seemed to make the man giddy, and he took his leave with a spring in his step, but he too could be stopped if Alex had a desire to halt him.
That left her with Melody, Ria, and Aes, and as the latter two would be leaving with her that left the mage as the only one who she might wish to try and consult. Once she was the last member of their war council left in her tower, she turned to Alex and gazed at her searchingly, but if the dragoness opted to take her leave she would make no effort to stop her.
