[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[Lavi]

"Only if you cannot control your tongue," Cecily added after Satsume reassured the alchemist, in direct contrast to the knight's willingness to compromise.

The alchemist grumbled and turned away to tend to his belongings as the two continued their conversation.

"Would you rest, if someone was waiting to plunge a dagger into your heart?" Cecily whispered back to Satsume.

Truth be told, she was exhausted. Her sinus felt like it was going to explode and her senses were still jumbled by the poison. Simply moving about on the cot was like moving boulders.

"I appreciate the gesture, though," she added.

The tent's opening rustled as Theodore returned to the tent. "I brought someone who says he's a doctor."

"Checked for weapons?" Cecily strained to say.

"Of course, milady," he answered.

"Bring him in," she nodded to him.

A young man entered the tent, carrying a backpack. He certainly looked like a medicine man: a well equipped one, in fact. But Cecily is not so quick to judge him by his appearance. Many politicians separated their appearances and motives: assassins are similar in that regard.

The doctor began to move to the sick lady, but Theodore stopped him with one arm. Despite her vassal's protectiveness, Cecily beckoned him to come forward.

"Do you know Hippocrates?" she asked the doctor.

"Miss?" the doctor was taken aback by the question.

"Hippocrates," Cecily repeated more slowly. "I was reading his works lately."

"A bit, but I don't remember much of it," the doctor said as he began laying out utensils.

"He wrote about the methodology of a king in ruling his subjects," Cecily said.

"Oh, that does sound familiar," he seemed to brighten at the topic.

"That a king may need to commit evil to rein in his subjects, but to perform his evil at once rather than over time, for the commoner's mind has short memory," she continued.

The doctor nodded.

"Theodore," Cecily turned her gaze to her subject, who immediately understood her.

A dagger sprouted in the doctor's chest and he collapsed on the tent floor. The alchemist cringed.

"Wha? I thought you needed a doctor?" the alchemist blabbered.

"The philosopher who wrote about the methods of kings was Nikolai. Hippocrates laid out the ethics of medicine," Cecily explained. "I wouldn't trust a dishonest doctor."

"Then why would he say he know?"

"To lull us into a sense of security. Amicable and welcoming," Cecily replied, gesturing to Theodore.

"I need you to defend our alchemist friend," she told him.

"What about you, milady?" he asked.

"He will escort me back to the inn," Cecily tugged on Satsume's arm, ignoring the fact that she didn't ask the man for his help.

"Letting a stranger escort you, milady?" Theodore asked her.

"They know you will do whatever it takes to defend me. They will converge on your presence. It places you at great risk, but I will have a much greater chance of getting away," Cecily replied.

"Can't you call on the Bernese guards?" the alchemist asked.

"They already know I am the lady of Laus. In order to avoid actively taking a stance against Lycia, they cannot offer me refuge," Cecily explained. "Enough questions. They will be coming soon."

A commotion began to be audible outside, presumably from the presence of one or more unexpected individuals.

"Sir Knight, if you will," Cecily gestured for Satsume to pick her up.

It did not need to be said that she wanted to get her plan moving along, though it was up to the Ostian's consent whether it would move at all.

"The two of you can get out the back," the alchemist hurried towards the back of the tent and pulled aside the drapery. Behind was even more tents strewn about the field, which led into a clearing where a well was.