Jasyn Lancaster was still partially seeing stars from his position, having been thrown from the galley seat that he'd been perched upon to the deck of the ship, the mug that he'd been holding having flown out of his hand and cracked in half on impact on the ther side of the deck.

Still, he managed to level a pretty clear glare in the direction of the departing Sith pilot's back,

"Bloody Kriffing Hell," he growled, ungracefully getting to his feet and shaking his head, trying to clear the residual fog. "This is panning out to be such fun."

Falling silent for a moment, Jasyn brushed perhaps invisible crumbs from his person, and turned to K'kihl and Cazun, who were likewise trying to collect themselves, one much more loudly than the other.

"So unfortunately we don't need a guide for this part, I am absolutely way too kriffing familiar with where we are going," he then said.

"Let's go see what we can do to get my buddy Matt out of this Hellhole...

...so we can get out of here too."

And have a nice binge drinking session, eh ole' buddy? came the errant thought.

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

"I believe she departed some time before I discovered you in the dungeons," she finally replied. "It was just around that time that I... came upon the magicks of my, um... Teacher on Khar Delba. I remember that I had just been given a new lesson, one I was giving all my attention to, and wandered off in the wrong direction from my rooms."

She paused again, daring to look Matt directly in the face.

"It was then I heard your cries and moans, and took it upon myself to do something about it."

"But as for the Dark Lady...I don't know where she has gone, only that she has yet to return. Our Dark Mistress does not deign to inform the general populace of her actions, nor her reasoning behind them."

...and Lord Aelvedaar...or any other well known Sith, to begin with. After all, it wasn't the norm for a human to be on a Sith world. At least, not to his knowledge. After all, the Sith had only been back in existence for a few years which seemed to stretch out into eternity. Truthfully he had absolutely no idea how the Sith of the past interacted with the rest of the Galaxy. And as far as what the history books said, most thought that the Sith were a bunch of dark beings a la Darth Vader...

...not a race with their own worlds, with both their good and their bad and everything in between...

...just like every other race in the galaxy and beyond. After all, here was someone of the aforementioned race who had literally risked her own life to save him, a complete stranger.

"You want to go to Khar Delba with my friends and I when this is all over, and have been learning from a teacher on Khar Delba," he then said. "Have you ever been there before?"

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

Keeping her face averted, she kept up the pace and after a bit of time had passed finally answered.

"No, I have never been to Khar Delba," she said simply, even as the mere mention of the planet conjured up images of wonder and freedom before her eyes. For that indeed what the world had come to mean to her.

Freedom.

More so than the promises Freedon Naad had extended to her. His brand of freedom involved battles, and resistance, and standing against those he and his ilk deemed to be the epitome of what was wrong in the galaxy. RhoHalla, on the other hand, had no such grandiose ideas or goals.

I just want to be...

Free.

For if there was but a single thing her up until now short tenure within the walls of the Great Temple had taught her, it was that categorizing one another solely by bloodline or wealth was, well...

Wrong.

A person's worth should be measured by his heart, by how he treats another. Beings are beings, not things to be owned by another who by sheer luck of the draw was born in the right place at the right time!

She didn't mention any of this, for to be honest she had no idea of the philosophies held by the human. While he did seem kind, and kindness toward relative strangers tended to be a core personality characteristic, she still didn't know if his kindness toward her was simply because she had managed to free him.

I hope he will return that favor; oh, how I hope! she thought to herself, even as a smaller portion of her thoughts now attended to the matter of what she could do if she was indeed wrong about the man.

There is still my Teacher, those thoughts went on.

That one is most certainly kind...

...after all, she had never told him anything of herself other than that she worked in the Temple, and that she very much wanted to go to Khar Delba. And that she'd been receiving lessons from an unknown Sith, who was on Khar Delba.

At that thought he frowned. Who...???

Not wanting to alarm her with his concern regarding exactly who might be teaching her, he kept the question to himself. "Khar Delba is less populated and quieter than K'eel Doba," he said. "I've been there several times, with my friends and coworkers." Here he paused, realizing that, while he had noticed that RhoHolla had yet to tell him anything of herself beyond what she did in the Temple, that he hadn't her anything of himself either.

And considering she was relying on him to stick to his promise to get her off K'eel Doba and she really knew nothing of him, then perhaps he should.

"I'm from a world called Ando Prime in the Mid Rim," Matt then said, frowning a once more as he remembered his youth on the world known for Pod Races despite the cold and snow...and for the Hutts that controlled them. "I left there because there to get away from the crime and oppression of a species known as the Hutts," he then said. "They were cruel and they used sports as cover for criminal activities." Matt paused, shaking his head. "I've never been back there since I left."

Falling silent then he kept walking along behind RhoHolla, hoping that maybe something in what he'd said would help her feel more at ease knowing something of his less than stellar past.

[ 01-09-2019 09:37 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Mara1Jade ]

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

Everyone wants to climb to a better lot in life, all at the expense of another she thought briefly before turning to Matt. Her rusty eyes were open, guileless, letting him seek the truth within their depths to which she was now giving voice.

"I- I feel the same as you," she finally stammered, then dropping her gaze to the ground. She pondered her toes for a moment before deciding that perhaps she could be just a bit more forthright with him.

"What I mean to say is that here, on this world, in the Temple where I..."

Where I what? Am employed? Where I work? Where I am enslaved?

"...live," she went smoothly on, "...there are those of higher caste who direct the life course of those who are of lesser position."

She paused fractionally before rushing on with,

"Such as I."

Now she raised her head, shot a clear yet somehow defensive look into Matt's eyes, and then turned away.

"Come, we must hasten. It is %) j'Ukin W'rwea to the Temple; we have some distance to travel if we are to arrive there before the Bells sound the Awakening."

And aside from all that, what she had said about the distance they had to travel yet was not what primarily caught his attention. Instead it was the fact that she was pretty much telling him she was treated as nothing more than an underling.

He frowned to himself. "You should have the right to make your own choices regarding how you lead your life, no matter what," Matt said in seeming non sequiter. "You are wise and you are kind..."

He trailed, meaning his final words sincerely. "And you deserve better."

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

A protest escaped his lips in an involuntary chuff of air, and his arms flailed about more so than before. Gradually though, came the realization that the regiment had marched off on another mission, leaving him sore but at least able to breathe comfortably again.

He groaned, rolled over and propped himself up on one arm. His mouth tasted like old carpet, while in front of his squinting eyes three chair-backs strove valiantly to focus into one. He blinked, shook his head, and only by grabbing the back of said chair was able to haul himself into a sitting position.

Only then did he realize he was sitting quite unceremoniously upon the deck. Around him was silence, save for ticking and hissing as the now stationary Sith ship sat motionless, the thrum of movement removed from her being.

He strained to peer ahead; no sign of their pilot.

Again vowing to never touch that green stuff again, he hauled his carcass upright, and finally stood.

"OK, so we're here," he croaked through dry lips and an even drier throat.

But maybe in pieces... came a black thought. Seems every time you come to one of these damn Sith Worlds, it all starts with a bang. Kriffing hell.

"We need to head to the Temple and see if this Writ of Abeyance we have does what it's supposed to and helps us get my buddy back," he answered.

Or if it gets us imprisoned too.

Jasyn's brown eyes grew a shade darker, and he scowled a bit more before makinng a concerted effort to shake himself from his darkening thoughts.

"As for water, I'm sure there's some here, and we should all get some before we head out. This could take a while."

He paused, cocking his head towards K'kihl, suddenly wondering if the Insect indeed needed water at all...

...or what he ate, for that matter.

"At any rate, we should get going. I could be wrong, but I think it's early morning here, and who knows how long it'll take before we're seen..."

By whoever the Bloody Hell is in control here, Yikes...

"...once we get where we're going."

[ 01-12-2019 04:23 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

Be that as it may, K'kihl was certain water would solve his temporary woes, so he dismissed the first human and called out to Jasyn as he disappeared further to the aft of the craft.

"Seek the city, this must we do," he repeated, giving his mandibles another clatter as if to add emphasis to his lilting speech.

"How this is to be done..."

He paused fractionally, cocking his head to one side as eidetic memory reared up to serve him.

"A transport system there is, to the city us will take?" he queried. Other memories rose behind his chitinous eyes, memories of Dark Lords and portals and young human girls and others with whom he had thrown his lot since leaving Boss Sorben so long ago and so very far away.

"Here have I been, to this Great Temple. But traveled there did I by means not city transport.

"Find this where do we?"

[ 01-12-2019 05:15 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by K'kihl ]

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

Memories of this world before it had come to life again, full of Sith warriors and their ilk. Memories of a past seemingly ages ago, of Dark Lord Roan and Desolist and that Gravin Dark guy...

...and of what they intended to do to Galen, and how Terrin had taken steps to ensure her safety from them, including a very bold Alliance with the Sith. Of everything that followed...including Terrin's untimely death only to be later resurrected, of a seeming turn in the tides where the Sith revoked said Alliance...

...and of their continual entanglements with the Sith despite everyone's best efforts to get away. Of incoming Yuuzhan Vong and the Darker Realms...

Bloody Kriffing Hell.

"I actually lived here for some time," Jasyn admitted then, ignoring any oogling looks that might now be directed his way. He sighed. "It was a different time then," he said with no further explanation. For while K'kihl might have been aware that the Sith weren't always, well, here in this time, there was no real way to explain it to Cazun.

"It's really not too long of a trek," he then stated, "And pretty much gets us right to the Great Temple of the Warriors."

[ 01-12-2019 05:48 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

Teachings set aside, by dint of great effort she stepped emotionally back another step, and one more after that.

While Freedon and her Teacher strove to educate, to offer knowledge by which she could improve upon her life which indeed differed from what this human was doing...

All three treated her as a peer. As worthy of being educated, as worthy of being spoken to, not due to her elevation in life, or her position in her caste, or even due to whom she might know.

But simply because she was a living, breathing individual. A person.

Suddenly she yearned even more to be off of her home world, and swept far away. Perhaps to K'eel Doba, perhaps even farther.

Anywhere I can grow, as Freedon's words spoke of, for which my mentor's teachings prepare me, and what this human, this man...

She dropped her eyes, then cut Matt a suddenly shy look through her lashes.

May be promising...

She nipped that thought off in the bud, unwilling to set herself up for possible disappointment. The real probability that she might be able to finally step foot on the soil of Khar Delba was enough, there to seek her Teacher and continue her lessons in person.

She dared not hope for more.

"Thank you for your kind words," she finally replied, following that with, "Come. We have far to go. It is..."

She paused, realizing he probably couldn't translate the distance she had given him in her native tongue. Then she brightened. Working as minion in the Great Temple of the Warrior Clan every now and again introduced serving girls to beings from off-world, or at least to the knowledge of them. Her occasional contact with the other serving girls who had more contact with these strangers had taught her another lesson:

When these beings were directed to wait for those with whom they had come to speak, they were given the information in time.

Standard hours of time.

Or minutes, as the case may be. Or...

"We have at least 3-1/2 standard hours of fast travel ahead," she finally finished, mentally broadening said episode from her own travel-time of just over 2 standard hours. For this human wasn't Sith, and she doubted that even in the best physical condition he would be able to keep up with the pace she normally would have set.

"This is Captain Terrin Danner, requesting all fleet ships to engage in the immediate search and find of a unique crippled Mandalorian vessel- a class unknown but most likely assault - emitting an SOS. All should report back immediately with location of any SOS find within the area which is designated to this owner encrypted frequency."

Jasyn's frown deepened as he also received the attached map and wondered exactly what was going on. The last he'd heard from Terrin, Galen had gone off to Degobah or somewhere like that on her own, and Terrin and whomever was with him were going after her. There weren't a lot of logical reasons that Terrin would send a message of this variety across to EE, but Jasyn knew that one of those reasons could very likely be that Galen was in trouble. After all, they had been on Mandalore, and Jasyn could see her taking some sort of Mandalorian ship on her quest. She could fly anything, after all.

Jasyn keyed in Terrin's personal comm frequency. "Terrin, I just received the priority message, and I'm guessing this had to do with Galen. We've arrived on K'eel Doba and are en route to the Temple with a Writ of Abeyance from Lord Aelvedaar to hopefully get Matt. I don't know how much I can help from here, especialy without ship of my own, but if and when I think I am with someone who could help, I'll let you know. Keep me posted."

Sending the message on its way, Jasyn frowned once more, annoyed that he wasn't present to help the way he wanted, annoyed that he didn't have a ship (although, shucky darn, there were plenty of available ships in that spaceport back there...), and upset with himself and life in general that they still hadn't gotten to Matt.

((OCC: Terrin's message was incoming from Tales of Strength and Honor, posted on 1/15/19 in the CSWU.)))

[ 01-19-2019 11:33 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

Terrin pushed a button on his wristcomm to send a response.

"Galen left us on a Mandalorian assault vessel, and for reasons I'm not certain of it's been damaged and she's currently stranded with emergency power only, emitting a distress beacon. The map attached to my priority message indicates where we've narrowed down her location to be."

He paused, frowning, knowing how large that area was, in fact.

"I'll keep you posted if we find out anything further, and if we are able to get to her. I know you're not in a good place to help at the moment, but keep me posted should that change. And let me know how all goes in regards to Matt."

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

He was even able to pick up on the subtle undertones of worry and concern laced liberally through them both. Cocking his head a bit, he clattered his mandibles in the Verpine equivalent of "Excuse me," and coming up to him placed a manipulatory appendage on Jason's shoulder.

"Some trouble is there?" he asked simply before falling silent.

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

"The Boss--Terrin--has alerted the fleet of EE to look out for a Mandalorian ship emitting an SOS in a portion of the galaxy that is still extremely broad, to determine its location. Apparently Galen went off on her own on said ship and now it's damaged, operating on emergency power only. Terrin's trying to locate and get to her before it's too late."

Jasyn quieted at that for a few moments, his look darkening further. "If we could get in contact with them some way I know the Sith...Graysith, or Lord Aelvedaar, or even Aeylmaar....might be able to help us. But we're stuck here with no way that I'm aware of to get in contact with any of them, especially since our Sith escort has gone on his way to eat, drink, and be merry while we do what we're here to do."

Dammitall, lucky bastard. I'd like some Sith Brandy about now with tidings such as these...

Shaking himself from these thoughts, a possible idea niggled at the corners of Jasyn's mind. He didn't know if it was plausible, but he wondeered if there was any way they could contact Khar Delba from the Sith ship they'd just left behind. Of course, everything on its navboard and on the ship in general was written in Sith, but if anyone could figure it out, a Verpine sure could.

"I wonder if we could contact Lord Aelvedaar or Aeylmaar on Khar Delba from that Sith ship somehow," he then said aloud, shrugging, knowing he had to say it whether it was impossible or not.

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

"Able to do, this perhaps I can," he stated almost to himself. Then he straightened, focusing on the human male.

"In ship like this, came to aid of Boss Sorben and I." His mandibles chattered as he waved a chitinous claw broadly behind them. "Did Galen."

He let his arm drop again, collected his thoughts before going on.

"Galen flew, but observant am I," he chattered. "Comm system, know placing, using of do I.

"Language not I know."

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

Would be fabulous to have a good linguist just lurking around. Or anyone who might know these ships well enough to translate the language. He'd only seen four humans he could think of who could fly those Sith fighters anyway: Graysith, Stargazer, Galen, and Erik Kartan. And at least couple of this group also probably knew how to contact Lord Aelvedaar anyway...

...and could probably help locate Galen themselves.

He scowled. "And who the kriffing Hell knows what comm frequency to use to get in contact with Lord Aelvedaar or Aeylmaar on Khar Delba anyway? After all, that's not how any of them communicate, having other ways of staying in contact."

He paused, chewing at his bottom lip again, trying to come up with anything. "I don't know. Many of the Sith I've encountered do speak basic, and maybe there's a reply button on that comm unit that may have some frequently used frequencies on it. I kinda doubt there are many other than ones here in system, although I suppose I could be very wrong.

"Other than maybe finding someone who knows both languages and knows how to contact a Dark Lord, or can figure out some other way to get in contact with him or Aeylmaar, I have no idea how we're going to be of any help until we get back to Khar Delba. Unless...."

He trailed, a crazy idea popping in his head. "There are other ships in the spaceport, and I'm certain some of them have basic as their primary language. And based on the fact they are here, clearly indicating their owners had contact with the Sith, we may be able to use what's in their comm systems to get a message off to the Dark Lord, perhaps. After all, he was here 4,000 years ago just like whoever flew those ships here obviously were."

It was a crazy idea, Jasyn knew. Maybe too crazy. But at least it was something.

[ 01-19-2019 05:29 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

"Know not I Sith, subtleties of request then to state. But Basic know they...

"It would seem.

Now he fell silent, is observation concluded. The only sound was a brief chattering of his mandibles, which too quickly segued into silence.

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

Jasyn felt stupid just saying it. After all, the Dark Lord had sent them with a Writ of Abeyance for Matt, which probably should...or at least, hopefully should... deem them worthy enough to request to make contact with said Dark Lord upon their arrival at the Temple.

"I mean, it doesn't seem our escort is too interested in helping us beyond his assignment, but that doesn't mean that we might not be granted the ability to contact Aelvedaar, or give him a message, by others. Especially not with us already carrying a Writ of Abeyance that is signed by him," he then said aloud.

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

With that the somewhat taciturn Verpine turned now sending his curious gaze out over the tarmac which spread like a concrete apron all around the little Sith ship they had traveled in. Filled with ships of every make, some fairly new, some so old as to be new to him, they all captured his inquisitive attention like a t'plykk fruit captures that of a blarnworm.

He clattered his mandibles again, now waving one manipulatory appendage about, encompassing the entirety of the spaceport with that one simple motion.

"Besides," he went on. "To which ship go we? Odd attentions, thus present we there. Abeyance Writ then, perhaps overlooked would be by...

"Authorities."

He waggled the claws on the end of that appendage, now indicating by that subtle movement the obviously authoritarian Sith Warriors who strode purposefully about, gleaming weaponry in hand, looking more than capable of keeping everyone in line should the necessity arise.

Jedi, perhaps even...

He didn't voice that thought, but gave his claws another emphatic wiggle.

"To them, perhaps, should we go," he announced, letting that appendage now drop lightly to his side. "To them, Writ must be revealed. They perhaps, then directive and assistance can give. For..."

He shot a shining look Jasyn's way, all the more inscrutable for the fact that his chitinous eye coverings simply were incapable of revealing emotion.

Only reflecting it.

"For," he continued smoothly, "Simple travel to transport, non-Sith we, more queries raise perhaps would be. To authority go, to greater authority gain. By this."

He pointed to the Writ clutched tightly in Jasyn's hand.

"Then by all authority protected, can we request in honor a bit more help giving...

"Perhaps."

He fell silent then, now looking about himself to make certain their new companion had departed the ship with him and Jasyn, and hadn't fallen back into his brandy-induced hangover. To his amused relief, Cazun indeed stood nearby, although still looking a bit worse for wear.

[ 01-21-2019 02:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by K'kihl ]

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

Jasyn frowned but nodded, turning his attentions to the Sith Warriors here and there that he had up until this point been trying his best to ignore. One way or another, said Warriors were the first logical point of contact they had to hopefully get to Matt and to potentially get a message to Lord Aelvedaar.

But that didn't mean he liked it. But what was that thing that Galen was always saying? In for a credit...

Jasyn worked up his nerve, arching an eyebrow K'kihl and Cazun's way, then cocking his head in the general direction of the closest Warrior. Steeling himself then, he turned, knowing the others would follow, and approached the Warrior, praying to all the Fates and any gods that would listen that the Writ he had clutched in his hand would do what it was supposed to do.

As he approached, the Warrior stopped, gleaming spear in hand. Jasyn did his best not to think about the spear...and the other weapons the guy had...and looked at him directly, trying to radiate as much open honesty as he could.

Dammitall, this stuff was Terrin and Matt's fortes, not his. But he had to do his best. For Matt, and quite possibly for Galen.

"I am Jasyn Lancaster of Eagle Enterprises, he opened with. "My friends and I have come from Khar Delba under the auspices of Dark Lord Aelvedaar, to retrieve a friend that is here," he explained, stretching out his hand that yet held the Writ of Abeyance and offering it up for the Warrior's inspection, and then falling silent, waiting.

[ 01-21-2019 02:26 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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

Displacement.

No, having something of a brain within his horned and armored head, at least more of a brain than those of his brawny brothers, he had risen to his place by his ability to think.

This made him a valuable asset within the entirety of the Clan, one valuable enough to have others keeping shadowy, watchful eyes pinned upon him and his career with a vow that he kept along the path he had chosen.

Thus it was that his attention was, albeit somewhat idly, captured by the emergence of the pilot of one newly arrived Sith ship, one whose origin was clearly known to him. His attention was peaked, however, as three beings never been seen before by him followed at length upon the disappearing heels of that pilot.

Critical thinking skills demanded a bit more incoming information; thus he merely stood quietly, now turning in place to scan the immediate surroundings for any other possible surprises, only to find none. He kept slitted eyes focused sideways upon the little group, however, waiting to see if they would present any... furtiveness in their actions.

A few moment's time assured him that did not appear to be the case. There was nothing remiss elsewhere that he could see visually; a quick thought out to those warriors dispersed throughout the great vastness that was Ch'arlingua assured him even more when quick reply after quick reply merely barked the Sith equivalent that all was status quo.

A movement from the group at last. Now he turned, one clawed hand holding his battle spear ready, it's butt against the tarmac, its gleaming, razored point rising a full meter above his already imposing 2-1/2 meter frame. His head tilted down as the threesome drew near, horns on his head casting the shadow of a buck in rut upon the approaching beings, his smoked eyes now glinting sternly down as they came to a halt in front of him.

Eventually one spoke to him, held out a paper in his direction. His eyes moved from encompassing the entirety of the group to falling deeply into those of the speaker, reading so easily through the facade of bravery he presented into the core of his being where something rather small shivered and gulped and quivered.

Yet he spoke.

Something equivalent to a smile curled the corner of the Warrior's lip, and his clawed hand took up the Writ. For long moments he stared over the top the paper in his hand, still pinning Jasyn's eyes with his own, before letting that gaze drop to quickly scan the words upon it. A quick tendril of Sith magick reached out, touched it, verifying its authenticity.

He straightened further, still looking down at the group, now turning his head to take its occupant's in one by one.

A Verpine. In the company of two humans...

He nodded once, slowly, as if all the data coming into his warrior's brain assimilated into one whole which said...

"In that direction, you will find a concourse."

The voice with which he deigned to speak was deep, rasping, and oozing with military might and power. He continued.

"Follow it to it's end, where it meets at the junction of a cross-concourse. Turn to your right. It will take you to the transports. Simply input your destination, it will take you there.

"All transports go to Phrinnchatka," he finished almost as an afterthought as a tiny bit of his imposing mein loosened enough to let them know he knew they were strangers there. But that mein didn't loosen to the extent that the more overwhelming sense of Prove the Dark Lord's trust in you correct which filled the rest of it, all rippled muscle and now fired eyes, wasn't allowed free rein.

He handed the Writ back to Jasyn, made a quarter turn, pointed with his spear, and fell silent, his eyes never leaving the group, his body loose yet ready to leap should the necessity suddenly arise.

He paused then, considering the idea of entering the Temple on their own...

especially since he easily recalled who was in charge last he knew.

Fat chance there would be any wisdom in approaching the Temple willy-nilly, non-Sith as they were. Especially not on this Warrior World of the Sith.

"I would not wish to go to the Temple or seek audience with your leader unannounced."

...or without escort? came the follow up, yet unvoiced query. Jasyn had a suspicion this Warrior Sith was wise enough to figure that out.

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

Which quickly ratcheted down into mere annoyance.

One hand shot out, appropriating the paper from Jasyn's suddenly nerveless fingers only to literally shove it beneath the human's very nose. He held it there a moment, where it rustled with the quick exhalation shot upon it by the human.

"Have you not a Writ?" he almost snarled, then pulling it back from literally beneath the man's nose he held it to him with the merest speck of something approaching civility.

"All transports go to Phrinnchatka. Input your destination! Have you no ears, nor wit to understand a simple directive?"

Letting his spear now slide gracefully back to come to rest against his shoulder, he reached out with that hand and grasped Jasyn's. He followed that motion by shoving the Writ back into the hand he held, following it by a squeeze of his own long, clawed fingers which crumpled the Writ somewhat by the fingers he forced to take another hold of it.

He then regained his original military stance, the acute movement of standing rigidly upright serving to send the spear into the readiness of his grip once again. Then deigning to say no more, he simply turned in utter dismissal of the group and went off to continue his watchful guard over Ch'arlingua.