[IRP] Power Begets Power

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume let his mind wander, but kept his eye on Cecily as she spoke with Marquess Pherae.  Suddenly, he heard his name.

"Satsume!” it was Shad.

“What’s up?”

“I've got some questions about this operation that I'm hoping you may be able to help me with,” said Shad.  “I know you were an Ostian knight. I've seen Ostian knights fight before, but I must ask, have you any foreknowledge of Lausian tactics or strategies? As someone who's shed quite a bit of blood as of late running in uninformed, I'd like to know what to look out for this time."

Satsume gave Shad a quizzical look.  “Um… moving past the fact that I never told you I was with the Ostian Armor Corps, I suppose I know this much – Laus was always the first on our list when we did joint exercises.”  He started moving his hands around to demonstrate movements.  “They never were the brightest.  Their solution to everything was to add more spearpoints.  Finesse is foreign to them.”

As he was relaying what he knew to Shad, Satsume caught Cecily turning away from Lord Elbert briefly, and watched Lita and Orica join their discussion.  Under the assumption that it was intended for everyone to convene, he stopped short of his last sentence and directed Shad’s attention in that direction.

“I think we’re wanted,” he said.  “Come on.”

Lita was in the midst of speaking as Satsume neared.  ”Oh, I've been told that I have a nasty habit to talk in cryptic circles that don't give across nearly enough information.”

That’s for damn sure, thought Satsume.

“Specifically,” continued Lita, “Goldhardt’s… employment, has been terminated immediately, and they would like to reveal who they are.”

“Wha-” Satsume stopped himself.  He was almost positive that no one else knew of Orica besides himself, but volunteering that information was probably a great way to make the group suspicious of him.  He could already hear Cecily’s exasperated why-didn’t-you-tell-me lecture in his head.

To say nothing of Orica’s reaction.

Butterflies of anxiousness began to gather in the pit of Satsume’s stomach.  So instead, he just stood and waited, idly watching the wagons of goods being prepped for transport, and the castle hands tending to the horses.  He dropped a hand to his belt and touched the hilt of the dagger Cecily had given him, feeling around for the conspicuous dent.  It wouldn’t be long now.

Satsume swallowed in an attempt to make the uneasiness go away.

It didn’t help.