[IRP] Power Begets Power

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume could not have possibly been prepared for the words that came out of Cecily's mouth upon her return to the dining hall.
 
"I intend to return to Laus."
 
Satsume stiffened and sat straight up in his chair.  "What?!"  Every tale she had told him of the marquess since they had been traveling together was harrowing.  All of the Lausian assassins they had outwitted were menacing, and at times, seemingly endless.  And now she wanted to go back?  To the lion's den?  What had changed?
 
Cecily gave no explanation as she addressed the group.  There was a call to action, and nothing else.  Satsume suppressed the urge to demand why she was essentially throwing herself into danger - both physically and politically.  Instead, he pushed his chair away from the table and stood.
 
"Does anyone object?" asked Cecily.
 
"I'm sure it can't be any worse than the rest of the messes we've gotten into," Satsume replied.  He had said it as a joke, but it was his own subtle way of nudging the rest of the group towards accepting.  He picked up his cup of tea and held it up as sort of a toast.
 
“Where you go, milady… I will follow.”
 
Shad rose to his feet, as well.  "Lady Cecily,” he said.  “I fight for Etruria's freedom, and against the Church of the Preservation of Sanctity. As long as you fight towards those goals, you'll have my sword at your side.”
 
“When do we leave?” asked Satsume.

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Satsume stamped his foot to push it to the bottom of his boot.  His mind churned about as he laced it up.  So we’re finally here, Satsume.  You’re taking the princess back to her castle.  The job is finally coming to an end… He took a deep breath, letting the last thought echo before standing up and grabbing his breastplate off the bed.  The job is finally coming to an end…
 
It had been a trying few months.  He had never explicitly raised the question of what would happen once Cecily had finally reclaimed her throne.  Maybe he was afraid of the answer.  Maybe the fact that she hadn’t spoken to him since her announcement was the answer.
 
The breastplate slid over his head and seemed to float up in front of his chest, hung up on something on his belt.  He reached down and grabbed the offending item – the dagger.  His symbol of fealty sworn to Cecily.
 
It never felt so heavy before.
 
Satsume tossed the dagger onto the bed and set about fixing his shoulders and braces.  A knock on the door came as he was fixing his quiver on his back.
 
“Yeah?”