Heading Back [Open]

[thetriangle]

Savan thought for a moment. going with them would mean loosing Time, but he did relish a challenge.
“Of Course I should be glad to accompany you and your men,” said Savan, removing his sword from Evans gauntlet, with an ignorant but well-meaning smile, like someone who believes that the whole matter can be sorted out over a cup of tea. “I shall relish this opportunity to speak to your superior over your admirable conduct, you may lead the way!”

[[Savans more than happy to go straight to wherever it was these guys are taking them, unless you had something else in mind.]]

[Treijim]

The two youths were led along the road the way Evan was headed initially. Evan and Savan were loosely surrounded at all times, and separated by the leader on his horse, who nary threw a glance at either of them. Instead, he seemed far more concerned with other matters. Finally, as they came over a hill, a camp came into sight. Numerous rough canvas pavilions flanked the widest part of the road and there could be seen many soldiers. Though it didn't seem to be in any state of great alert, they had a watchtower and seemed to be keeping a cautious eye out.

"How is your wound, Evan?" asked the leading knight as they rode into the camp. "Would you have our healer see to it?"

"No, thank you," Evan said with a smile. "All I need is rest."

"Indeed. We have already prepared your tent for you. Gareth will show you to it." A burly man guided Evan to a nearby smallish tent and the leader turned to Savan. "Come to my tent. I would like to talk with you about what happened." And he showed the boy to the central pavilion and guided him inside. While he took a seat at the table there, he looked to Savan, waiting for the youth to say something of his own accord.

[thetriangle]

Savan was beginning to enjoy himself, “So, who do you intend to invade today?” he said, picking things up from around the tent and peering into them, for no apparent purpose. “I would not remain to confident in victory” he tapped a small wooden pox and listened to the sound it made. Apparently satisfied, he threw it over his shoulder. “If Someone of high enough rank to get their own tent can be defeated so readily by a thirteen-year-old, I doubt any serious endeavour of your could meet with great success.”
Having run out of interesting things in the room to examine, Savan absentmindedly picked a random paper off the desk and began reading it.

[Treijim]

The paper would have not made sense to Savan, assuming he could read, and the box [it was a box, right?] seemed empty. It didn't bother the knight.

"Please, sit," said the knight. "We are not invading anyone, so do not worry about how likely victory over whoever seems. I am curious as to why you tried to rob Evan and why you created a story to cover it all up. Do you want to explain it to before I ask him what happened?" He folded one hand over the other and stood still and straight, watching the boy with keen eyes.

[thetriangle]

[[Yes, it was just a box… but you’d think out of all the stuff in there he looked at, the symbol of the Paladins would be on something…]]

Savan sat, and looked directly into the knight’s eyes, while never breaking his stare, he said, “Normally you’d think I’d rob a man for money. But you apparently believe I had a motive other. I could, just for fun, tell you why I it was I chose to fight him, but by telling you it’s the truth, you would only doubt the statement more, such is the fun of lying. But that’s pretty much the reason. Fun. I was bored. I had Time, and nothing to do with it. So I fight, that’s what I do, its what I’m good at... Or it could have been for the money; you have no way of knowing. Isn’t this fun?” He had remained disconcertingly expressionless throughout his entire speech, deciding any act he added would be wasted on this knight.

[Treijim]

[You typed pox. It could have been a typo, or it could not have been. There would be no Paladin symbols in the entire camp, save the ones on Evan. Keep in mind that a Paladin is different to a paladin. Lower case refers to the rank among knights on North Nidonn. Upper case refers to the order of Paladins from Central]

"I see. I feel inclined to have you arrested," the knight said, holding Savan's gaze. "But I don't think I will. Not yet, no." He leant back and looked to his side. There was naught but blank canvas, but his face told otherwise. It seemed as though he was inspecting something truly fascinating. "I feel you may be of some use to us in our mission. If I promise you money -- some now and more later -- would you aid us?" He turned back to Savan, though he was more looking through the boy than at him.

[thetriangle]

“If the money’s good, then I certainly accept. Do you have a name, or should I just call you sir?”
Savan wasn’t worried that the man had as good as said he would arrest Savan as soon as the mission was complete. To him, it was just more fighting. If it wasn’t with this knight, he would be fighting someone else.

[verbed]

[Here comes Amon]

Amon knew the way people were. His people, the Ildemin, were considered vermin, the bottom of the barrel, the most wretched creatures to walk the lands. [If I assume correctly.] And he knew how to make it work to his advantage- how to get into position to rob the military encampment. Mind you, not to steal everything in sight. Amon knew better than that. You had to be smart to successfully get away with a job as delicate as this. He could only take so much that they wouldn’t notice anything was ever gone. But first things first: Amon was getting into the camp.

Amon had garbed himself in stolen servant attire and made himself present at the back end of a traveling caravan of horses and humans. He wasn’t pushed in so far that he stuck out as a newcomer to the group but he was close enough that as they all entered the camp, Amon appeared to just be a hired hand. And from the looks of it, two prisoner looking folk were also in the group, encased in the middle, so most of the wandering stares were at the two of them and not Amon.

Once a well-placed distance into the camp Amon deviated down a separate road, away from wherever the caravan was destined for. As he got deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of tents and storage Amon aimed himself for the lesser congested areas, eyeing barrel and box for something worth taking, something he could easily conceal under the servant’s wardrobe.

He stopped when he thought himself alone and peered behind him and before him: nobody around that he could see. He threw off his robe and crouched next to a small stack of storage bins: food, first-aide supplies and some more containers of questionable content. Nothing that would prove too valuable to the mass market. Still though, he needed food or he would soon begin to black out again. He began stuffing small articles of refreshment into the limited space of his short’s pockets.

Then Amon heard the disruption on the dusty road immediately behind him. His ears twitched and his heart jumped into his throat. His left hand instinctively made for the dagger at his hip, but it was stopped as it landed on the hilt by a stranger’s hand, holding it in place. He was at an extreme disadvantage here, squatting on the ground, dagger beyond reach and his left hand immobilized by his catcher. He needed to think quickly or he’d be in heaps of trouble.

[Treijim]

"My name is Sir Travik," the man replied rather flatly. "I am one of Jevithem's paladins, not that that would mean anything to you. This camp is under my command for the time being. Now, onto the matter at hand. You see... though us five kingdoms generally agree with one another and get along quite well, there are still... misunderstandings, and these can lead to unwanted events. But bluntly, there are spies around, and information has become worth more than a man's life lately. Leotyne, to the west, has infiltrators... or so we suspect. I won't go into how we found that out. It doesn't matter."

He paused and glanced toward the close canvas door. A shadow moved passed as one of the soldiers patrolled by, and there were also shadows of two men standing outside -- the two guards. "But you seem like the sort of fellow who can blend into a crowd and find out things. Am I right? I need you to find an interloper I believe to be in this very camp. I have reason to believe someone among us is sending information to a faction on Leotyne. I'll tell you now that it is not Evan. I know you two got off on the wrong foot but he really is a kind-hearted soul. Do you understand what I am saying to you? Do you understand how subtle you need to be?" He fingered a few gold coins that had somehow appeared in his hand, his keen gaze now fixed on Savan.

-------------------

Evan pushed the hand gently into the Ildemin's back and said quietly and firmly, "Should I ask what you are doing there or should I just hand you over to be arrested?"

The hand that had Amon's was his right hand; the one in the fully armoured gauntlet. It was his good hand -- his sword hand -- and it had a strong grip. Slowly, he lifted Amon's hand away from the hilt of his dagger. He didn't seem terribly threatening. Surely, if it were a soldier in Evan's place, Amon would have been thrown to the ground and may well have a boot against his tender neck. No, Evan was not like the others. He was quite serious, but not violent or aggressive.

"Speak," Evan persisted after some silence. "Speak or be handed over to someone who couldn't care less."

[thetriangle]

“Give me a moment to think please.” Said Savan, he then counted to 6 in his mind before presenting his solution to the problem. He found it disconcerted people if he did this immediately.
“Subtlety wont work by itself, it obviously hasn’t yet. I will need the postage you have withheld from your men; there is no code in the letters you can crack. After I leave this tent you must make an announcement that the company is moving to the boarder of Leotyne at dawn tomorrow, say where but not why. Also announce that because of the risk of spies, no one is allowed to leave the camp, and all sentries are to be paired. Immediately after this I will be handing out the letters in the centre of camp (you having released them now they can no longer pose any threat) I will tell the soldiers that as a thief I was given the choice of having my hands cut off or joining the army. Such an unusual recruiting practise also insinuates that we are marching to war. I will also say that you have told me I may leave for an hour (under Evans supervision) to gather personal things from my home. This make’s me the only way a spy can get information out of the camp before the company march’s tomorrow. I will no doubt receive a number of bribes to find a way to deliver a letter, but the spy is the one who can tell me how best to do so… a rather tidy solution, don’t you agree? I’ll need to speak to Evan first, he will need to remember everyone I talk to.”
He seemed about to get up, but then said “Oh, and I’ll need more than that paltry sum of money if I’m to risk my life for your cause.”
Savans was looking at Sir Travik’s face, but out of the corner of his eyes he was Focused on his hands.

[verbed]

Amon wrestled the grip on his right hand. The metal glove was unyielding as Amon’s own resolve. The number one lesson that his old master drilled into Amon, starting at the very beginning, was to never give yourself away. As soon you let them know who and what you are and what you’re doing it ruins all chances for potential heists that may arise in the future- lying was the only option. Amon’s mind raced for the right fib to contest to. It wasn’t enough to just pull any random lie right out of the air. He knew that there would only be one right lie for any situation. The lie that a person wants to hear is usually the one that will go undetected.

The gauntlet around Amon’s hand squeezed. “Speak or be handed over to someone who couldn't care less."

“Grah! All right!” Amon growled. “I suppose I’ve been caught in the act.” Amon used his flexible neck to turn and look into his capturer’s eyes. With a smirk he stated, “I’m a spy.”

[Treijim]

Travik's eyes shifted past Savan and drifted idly about the doorway for a moment as Savan spoke. He almost seemed about to glaze over until Savan mentioned money and he sighed and leant back.

"Easily arranged," he said. "But if you want more money in total, you'll get less right now." He slid at least ten coins across the table towards Savan, seemingly from his sleeve or some bizarre location. "And I suppose your plan will work, trusting you don't slip up. Boris! Kalavin!" The two men outside the door entered. "Kalavin, prepare everyone to move camp tomorrow. We're going to set up on the ridge north of Cliffmere Farms. All sentries are to be doubled up before and after the move. Boris, escort this boy to the storage tent and give him all the letters we've withheld. Get someone to find Evan and tell him I want to speak with him immediately, and then send Savan back here once he has the letters. That is all." He turned and began to observe a map on another desk somewhat forcefully.

Boris stood by Savan, waiting somewhat impatiently. "If you will," he said, directing the boy towards the door. "The storage tent is right beside this one."



-------------------

Evan didn't respond for a few moments. He simply frowned at Amon, until he said, "A spy, are you? What kind of a spy admits to his own game? A bad one, or a false one, I say. I hope you are a bad spy, personally..."

A soldier came around the corner and went to address Evan, but then stopped and slurred, noticing the peculiar situation he and Amon were in.

"Uhh... Evan," the man said. "Sir Travik wants to see you right away. Is this... an intruder? I can take him off your hands if you wish." He threw Amon a rather spiteful glance.

"No, not at all," Evan said. "This... child... is a servant of mine. I hired him to be a neutral guide, as such. You know what I'm like in new places."

"Actually, I don't," said the soldier. "But if you insist... I'll leave you be." The soldier left and Evan lifted Amon up to his feet by his hand he still had a good grasp on.

"I wasn't kidding to that soldier," Evan said sternly. He began to lead him out into the camp's main road. The soldiers gave Amon strange glances, but did not bother to ask what he was doing there. Evan's steady grip on Amon's hand seemed to assure them that everything was in order.

[thetriangle]

Savan didn’t make any move for the money on the table, showing the negotiations for his pay were still open.
“Ah, yessir! Thankyousir!” He said quickly and a little out of breath, almost seeming to jump as a stood. He followed the other soldier out of the tent, nervously feeling his wrists and hands, as if to make sure they were still there.

Savan wasn’t terribly impressed with Sir Travik, he clearly had no experience with espionage, once he had the letters the story he had devised gave no reason to return to the tent, but he can’t contradict a superior officer now that the other soldier was in the tent. He would just have to hope the soldier had been on his shift so long his mind had become blank from the dullness of his routine.
A more worrying concern was that this would give Sir Travik time alone with Evan, and he didn’t particularly want them talking to each other without him present.

Once outside the tent Savan let out a breath, like someone who hadn’t really expected to leave the tent alive, let alone intact. “A bit scary, isn’t he?” he asked his fellow soldier, as they walked to the storage tent.

[verbed]

Amon let the soldier’s words about bad and false espionage go unanswered. He knew what good spy work was but he wasn’t going to dig himself into a bigger whole by arguing and lying even further.

“Is this... an intruder? I can take him off your hands if you wish."
"No, not at all. This... child... is a servant of mine. I hired him to be a neutral guide, as such.”

Amon was slightly offended by the short discussion that just took place before him. A ‘child’ they called him. Amon thought back upon what the last 19 years of life had taught him. Not least of which was just that: he has been around for 19 years now. He was no child and he would teach them a lesson for making that mistake about him. ‘All in due time though,’ he thought to himself.

Amon went along with the soldier’s concocted act. He let himself be dragged to his feet by the overpowering arm and probably made himself look a little more helpless than he actually was on the way. As they walked he noticed the illiberal glances from passer-bys but only bowed his head in feigned submission. He didn’t feel like starting an uprising here about the racism towards the Ildemin. Amon would save that battle for another day.

As soon as they were removed from line of sight, Amon freed his arm from his capturer. It was a motion that was overly kinetic, bouncing up and over the head of the soldier and probably completely unnecessary given that he might have accomplished the same goal by just jerking his arm away. But it was more for the flash of move, maybe to surprise or intimidate the opponent, and show that he was, in fact, not helpless. Amon landed back on the ground before the soldier, crouched into a four-point position, with his hands padding the ground between his bent knees. His tailed swept the dusty road they walked on and created a slight impression as he lifted his chin to eye the armor-clad man with what he hoped was an unperceivable aggression.

As Amon stood back up, he pulled a newly stolen loaf of bread from the pocket of his shorts and brought it to his mouth. He bit into it, smirked and spoke, “I suppose a name sounds better than just referring to me as ‘child’. You can tell your buddies-“ the last word was said with contempt “-that I’m Amon if they question you about me.” Amon took another bite of the bread as the subtle conceding to the plan sunk in. He resumed the servant’s rightful position behind the back of the one that was called Evan. Holding the bread by his canines, Amon threw his cloak back over himself and hid his face from sight.

[Sorry for the wait, guys. I realize that my last two sentances can kind of ruin a timely retort from Evan, but I tried to keep everything Amon did something that Evan could just shrug off if you so desired.
EDIT: The age spread between Evan and Amon just dawned on me. I probably could've used that to my advantage in this post, but oh well.]

[Treijim]

[Sorry guys. Trying to move house while finishing a degree course workload hurts a good something]

Boris said something about Evan to a nearby soldier once they left the tent, but the knight did not make eye contact with Savan as he answered, "No, not really." For some reason the walk between the two tents was long, so he decided to add more. "Though he is quite adamant. You'd be hard-pressed to get a reaction out of him." Then he gave the boy a sort of warning glance. "Don't get any ideas, though."

They reached the appropriate tent and Boris led Savan inside. He went to some chests towards the centre of the room, took out a key that was securely chained to his belt, and unlocked a moderately large chest. Inside, folded papers were stacked. He turned to Savan.

"Did you want me to take the chest somewhere or can you carry them all on your own?" he asked, possibly withholding a smile of amusement. "What do you need them for, anyway? I've been through them myself, and they all seem quite ordinary, though I'm not one to question Sir Travik, so... forget I asked that."

-------------------

Evan maintained his serious yet naive expression as Amon introduced himself -- at least, that was what Evan thought he was doing. He watched as Amon went behind him and concealed his face, making him seem remotely human. Hopefully, nobody would look too closely.

"Right," Evan said after a pause. "Well... I need to see Sir Travik, so you have to... stay outside his tent, I guess."

There were more and more soldiers about, and Evan and Amon kept to the more secluded paths of the camp to try and avoid attention. It was getting harder for them to avoid bumping into soldiers.

"I felt you flinch as I called you a child," Evan said. "I apologise. I'm not familiar with your race, and since I did not see your face, I assumed quite brashly that you were younger than me. Besides, if I said you were anything more, that man would have questioned me further."

Finally, he reached Travik's tent, and after telling Amon again to stay put, lest he would tell the other guards all that happened, he disappeared into the large tent and two men stood by the door -- one of which elected himself to watch Amon carefully.