A part of Evan was irritated at having Mizu along - mostly just, he was getting fatigued feeling like he had to speak tactfully, and if Mizu weren't there, he actually felt like he'd be able to speak with the crone fairly plainly. It made sense that Mizu would want to go, though, and Evan was very slowly starting to relax and think that maybe he was being too cautious with her. She was a hardened commander at war, after all - perhaps he was in fact being ridiculous being as worried as he was.
But then, she went and stumbled over her words, which caught his attention immediately. She was... checking that he was all right? Evan felt surprised, and cast his gaze embarrassedly to the side again, briefly a little overwhelmed at just how much warmth settled in his chest about that.
"I mean... yeah." Gods, how much assurance to give her? He stifled a groan and shifted slightly in his seat when the band on his cock shocked him again, his thoughts having drifted back to the moment the goddess had let down her skirt, and to that sensation of his life having lead him there. He didn't necessarily believe that at this immediate moment, but he could still feel the part of him that did, and he wondered whether Mizu would be disturbed or relieved to hear just how all right that part of him was. "Gods know I'd give just about anything not to watch our troops waste away over nightmares." That certainly was a true thing he could say; the situation before he'd figured out what the fuck was going on was pissing him off pretty royally. But, it still avoided the acknowledgement that some part of him was glad to be in the situation he was in, fucked up as that may be... and he supposed he did feel like Mizu deserved to know about that, at least to some extent.
"And, I mean, if I'm being completely honest... I mean, it's going to sound stupid as shit, but..." he sighed uncomfortably, and let himself bring a hand up to cover his face again. "I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing." Having gotten the words out - albeit a bit mumbled - Evan dragged his hand down to just be covering his mouth, and turned his eyes back to Mizu a little nervously. Honestly, he wouldn't even begrudge her that much if she laughed in his face about that, but needless to say, he certainly hoped that she didn't.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
Hearing that Evan would give anything not to watch the men fall for an unknown reason felt like a good enough justification to Mizu, although in some way, it saddened her. Despite having committed herself to doing anything and everything for the sake of the cause she believed in, she lamented the necessity for anyone else to feel like they needed to bear that burden themselves. But, still she nodded grimly, understanding completely.
For that reason, she lightened visibly when Evan continued on, going as far even to qualify his statements again. It took her a moment to register his words, but upon realizing that he was attempting to articulate that he had found purpose in volunteering himself this way, Mizu granted Evan a rare smile, small though it may have been. Yes, it was in some ways ridiculous that that purpose seemed to be subjecting himself and his body to the whims of a maliciously seductive deity, but Mizu firmly believed that Evan was doing it for the sake of protecting his men, and she found herself warmed and grateful for his presence in this army, in this fight. Despite the ways he endlessly frustrated her and made it difficult to keep up appearances, she respected Evan and appreciated his candid nature. If nothing else, he was earnest, and that did a lot to encourage her to believe everything he was saying. At the very least, Evan believed what he was saying.
Still, the thought of gods being real to some degree shook Mizu to her core. She felt as though she had been raised on lies in a way that made her feel that everything she cared about only tenuously existed. Somehow, contemplating the presence of the gods made everything else feel less real, less important, less tangible when a god could, conceivably at any moment, wave a hand and meddle in any human affairs. She suppressed a sigh and decided she would contemplate the matter further later.
"Is there anything you need to do before we pay the crone yet another visit?"
For that reason, she lightened visibly when Evan continued on, going as far even to qualify his statements again. It took her a moment to register his words, but upon realizing that he was attempting to articulate that he had found purpose in volunteering himself this way, Mizu granted Evan a rare smile, small though it may have been. Yes, it was in some ways ridiculous that that purpose seemed to be subjecting himself and his body to the whims of a maliciously seductive deity, but Mizu firmly believed that Evan was doing it for the sake of protecting his men, and she found herself warmed and grateful for his presence in this army, in this fight. Despite the ways he endlessly frustrated her and made it difficult to keep up appearances, she respected Evan and appreciated his candid nature. If nothing else, he was earnest, and that did a lot to encourage her to believe everything he was saying. At the very least, Evan believed what he was saying.
Still, the thought of gods being real to some degree shook Mizu to her core. She felt as though she had been raised on lies in a way that made her feel that everything she cared about only tenuously existed. Somehow, contemplating the presence of the gods made everything else feel less real, less important, less tangible when a god could, conceivably at any moment, wave a hand and meddle in any human affairs. She suppressed a sigh and decided she would contemplate the matter further later.
"Is there anything you need to do before we pay the crone yet another visit?"
Re: Part 1
Gods, Mizu's small smile was more relieving than Evan could even describe. Not only did it lack any of the mocking he'd started to brace for, but dare he say, it looked approving. Evan lowered his hand from his face to reveal his own smile - also small, but just about as sheepishly grateful as Mizu - or, really, anyone, for that matter - had ever seen him muster.
He could tell Mizu got lost in thought, though, and his expression started sliding more serious again as he wondered how long to let her think before he inquired what was on her mind. She ended up speaking up before he chose to act, though, and she asked another good question.
On the one hand, asking the crone how to actually work the damn talisman was definitely a necessity before Evan returned to the goddess again, so getting that done ASAP seemed wise, to say nothing of all the other data that would also be useful to have.
On the other hand, he kind of had a raging boner straining against his pants by this point, and kiiiind of wanted to do something about it, if he was being completely honest. Then again, even if he did, he'd honestly probably be back in this state again in short order. Ughhhh. Maybe... it was fine? Mizu knew what was up at this point and didn't seem to be nearly as uncomfortable about it as Evan had been bracing for, and the crone had certainly already seen worse from him. Fuck ittttt...
"Nothing that can't wait," he said, doing his best to shake off the embarrassment that was trying to rise about it. He couldn't bring himself to stand before Mizu did, though, and in fact was likely to linger half a moment after she stood if he could get away with it.
He could tell Mizu got lost in thought, though, and his expression started sliding more serious again as he wondered how long to let her think before he inquired what was on her mind. She ended up speaking up before he chose to act, though, and she asked another good question.
On the one hand, asking the crone how to actually work the damn talisman was definitely a necessity before Evan returned to the goddess again, so getting that done ASAP seemed wise, to say nothing of all the other data that would also be useful to have.
On the other hand, he kind of had a raging boner straining against his pants by this point, and kiiiind of wanted to do something about it, if he was being completely honest. Then again, even if he did, he'd honestly probably be back in this state again in short order. Ughhhh. Maybe... it was fine? Mizu knew what was up at this point and didn't seem to be nearly as uncomfortable about it as Evan had been bracing for, and the crone had certainly already seen worse from him. Fuck ittttt...
"Nothing that can't wait," he said, doing his best to shake off the embarrassment that was trying to rise about it. He couldn't bring himself to stand before Mizu did, though, and in fact was likely to linger half a moment after she stood if he could get away with it.
Re: Part 1
Mizu's head dipped, and in the same moment, she stood up from her place at the table. There was certainly a part of her that didn't appreciate having to go visit the old woman twice in the last two days, but letting Evan lead with the new information he had would certainly give them an upper hand in the conversation.
As they headed back into the woods, she could not help a feeling of foreboding from settling into her stomach. In adding a god to the playing field, Mizu began to feel that the world was starting to seem a lot bigger and much more unpredictable.
--
As they reached the edge of the trees, Mizu entered the clearing and saw most of ritual from the day prior cleared away. Even the burnt grass had been scrubbed and partly replanted. Or regrown, she thought. She couldn't dismiss the possibility that things like that were true anymore, not out of hand.
Mizu did not cross the barely apparent line this time, though. She walked around it, to hell what Evan thought of the superstition. At least calling her out on it would be hypocritical at this point.
She expected the cottage to be quiet when they approached, but a chair sliding against the floor and an intermittent thump together with muffled groaning sounds immediately clued Mizu in that this was not a typical situation. Or at least certainly not the situation they encountered yesterday. Mizu's battle-ready muscles began to respond, and she subconsciously put one hand on her sword hilt as she used the other to pound on the door twice. She was not prepared to wait long before barging open the door.
However, the old woman quickly came to the door, almost as though she had been expecting them. She was disheveled, however, and certainly not in the elegant priestess garb she had been in the day prior. Her hair stood up in places, and her cloak was askew. Not to mention that there seemed to be a deep cut on the side of her leg if the blood on her garments were anything to go by.
"Good, you can help me with this one," the old woman said, nodding behind her where a bald man with enormous black eyebrows sat tied to one of the crone's kitchen chairs. He was gagged but was attempting to pull at the bindings all the way down his torso and legs, a look of fury burning in his eyes. He had a green and beige cloak over surprisingly white clothing.
The crone moved aside to allow Evan and Mizu access into the crowded hut. As she did so, she said, "if you don't already know, he's a member of the king's paladin assassins. I suspect something about the summoning ceremony from yesterday informed him of my location. Luckily, I had assumed one of them might be in the area and had prepared for it. I would have disposed of him had you not arrived. But now you can deal with him."
Mizu had kept her hand on her sword as she entered and looked at the man in the chair. With still-spiked adrenaline, she said, "is it possible he reported on our army's location?" Mizu knew that the king likely knew the general area the army was in, she worried about him having any other tactical information about the camp.
"Since the king ordered the destruction of the goddess' temples, his paladins have been rather single-minded in purpose. I think the king knows that he did not capture all the priestesses, and many of us remember how to summon the goddess, so he's been sending assassins. This is the third since I've gone into hiding. All that to say I find it hard to believe that they would be involved in the king's battle strategy." Mizu noted quietly to herself that the crone likely had disposed of the others and determined that this woman was not someone to be trifled with. If the king's assassins hadn't yet taken her down, she was formidable indeed. Still, Mizu was not convinced the army's location wasn't compromised. She had known the paladins and the military to collaborate--even from afar--especially in complex political situations. And though it was likely the king wouldn't launch a full-scale attack on only that information, he wasn't going to sit on it for long.
The crone turned toward Mizu and asked, "What should we do with him, then? Either way, we can't let him go." At this, the man made some muffled yelling sounds and strained again against the binding, moving the chair several inches, but neither the crone nor Mizu made any expression to acknowledge the outcry. Mizu didn't really want to kill the man, but she wasn't immediately seeing any other options. With Ponderance already as their prisoner, Mizu did not enjoy the idea of having an assassin in their camp, even incapacitated. However, she looked at Evan before making a decision.
As they headed back into the woods, she could not help a feeling of foreboding from settling into her stomach. In adding a god to the playing field, Mizu began to feel that the world was starting to seem a lot bigger and much more unpredictable.
--
As they reached the edge of the trees, Mizu entered the clearing and saw most of ritual from the day prior cleared away. Even the burnt grass had been scrubbed and partly replanted. Or regrown, she thought. She couldn't dismiss the possibility that things like that were true anymore, not out of hand.
Mizu did not cross the barely apparent line this time, though. She walked around it, to hell what Evan thought of the superstition. At least calling her out on it would be hypocritical at this point.
She expected the cottage to be quiet when they approached, but a chair sliding against the floor and an intermittent thump together with muffled groaning sounds immediately clued Mizu in that this was not a typical situation. Or at least certainly not the situation they encountered yesterday. Mizu's battle-ready muscles began to respond, and she subconsciously put one hand on her sword hilt as she used the other to pound on the door twice. She was not prepared to wait long before barging open the door.
However, the old woman quickly came to the door, almost as though she had been expecting them. She was disheveled, however, and certainly not in the elegant priestess garb she had been in the day prior. Her hair stood up in places, and her cloak was askew. Not to mention that there seemed to be a deep cut on the side of her leg if the blood on her garments were anything to go by.
"Good, you can help me with this one," the old woman said, nodding behind her where a bald man with enormous black eyebrows sat tied to one of the crone's kitchen chairs. He was gagged but was attempting to pull at the bindings all the way down his torso and legs, a look of fury burning in his eyes. He had a green and beige cloak over surprisingly white clothing.
The crone moved aside to allow Evan and Mizu access into the crowded hut. As she did so, she said, "if you don't already know, he's a member of the king's paladin assassins. I suspect something about the summoning ceremony from yesterday informed him of my location. Luckily, I had assumed one of them might be in the area and had prepared for it. I would have disposed of him had you not arrived. But now you can deal with him."
Mizu had kept her hand on her sword as she entered and looked at the man in the chair. With still-spiked adrenaline, she said, "is it possible he reported on our army's location?" Mizu knew that the king likely knew the general area the army was in, she worried about him having any other tactical information about the camp.
"Since the king ordered the destruction of the goddess' temples, his paladins have been rather single-minded in purpose. I think the king knows that he did not capture all the priestesses, and many of us remember how to summon the goddess, so he's been sending assassins. This is the third since I've gone into hiding. All that to say I find it hard to believe that they would be involved in the king's battle strategy." Mizu noted quietly to herself that the crone likely had disposed of the others and determined that this woman was not someone to be trifled with. If the king's assassins hadn't yet taken her down, she was formidable indeed. Still, Mizu was not convinced the army's location wasn't compromised. She had known the paladins and the military to collaborate--even from afar--especially in complex political situations. And though it was likely the king wouldn't launch a full-scale attack on only that information, he wasn't going to sit on it for long.
The crone turned toward Mizu and asked, "What should we do with him, then? Either way, we can't let him go." At this, the man made some muffled yelling sounds and strained again against the binding, moving the chair several inches, but neither the crone nor Mizu made any expression to acknowledge the outcry. Mizu didn't really want to kill the man, but she wasn't immediately seeing any other options. With Ponderance already as their prisoner, Mizu did not enjoy the idea of having an assassin in their camp, even incapacitated. However, she looked at Evan before making a decision.
Re: Part 1
Evan followed Mizu silently as they made their way to the crone's, his mind mostly focusing on the subjects he and Mizu would need to discuss with her - partly because, well, being prepared was good, obviously, but admittedly mostly just to avoid his mind focusing elsewhere. Thankfully, even just getting up and walking around was doing him some good in that department.
If he felt any judgement about Mizu's decision to avoid crossing the remnants of the line from the ritual, it certainly didn't show through; he also walked around it, whether that was simply from following Mizu's lead or his own inclination. His instincts also fired up in time with Mizu's, their hands each moving to rest on their swords in tandem. He didn't currently have a lot of space to think about this, much less enjoy it, but a part of him deeply appreciated feeling in sync with his commander like this.
A strange sort of appreciation also swelled for the crone, as Evan put together that she had managed to subdue this assassin. He wasn't initially planning on involving himself in the decision of what to do with the man - though he was certainly at the ready to execute on whatever decision was made - but he caught Mizu sending him a glance, which he took to mean that she was interested in his input.
"It'd be worth seeing if we can determine what information he's relayed to the king. If he proves cooperative, perhaps something can be worked out."
Evan tossed a glance towards the man, though the nature of it was pretty inscrutable, and he quickly returned his attention to Mizu.
((OOC: I, uh, have a feeling Mizu would know that Evan's not against torturing people for information. She might even know that he's willing to carry out said torture himself, if that's a thing that would've come up, though I'm not sure how 'skilled' he is at it necessarily? I also don't think he's been on the side of keeping prisoners who could prove problematic in the past, so... Mizu might also have a hunch that Evan's comment about perhaps working something out might in fact be total bullshit. Hopefully all that's not lame to communicate OOC, but he'd be holding those cards pretty fuckin close to his chest in front of an enemy lol))
If he felt any judgement about Mizu's decision to avoid crossing the remnants of the line from the ritual, it certainly didn't show through; he also walked around it, whether that was simply from following Mizu's lead or his own inclination. His instincts also fired up in time with Mizu's, their hands each moving to rest on their swords in tandem. He didn't currently have a lot of space to think about this, much less enjoy it, but a part of him deeply appreciated feeling in sync with his commander like this.
A strange sort of appreciation also swelled for the crone, as Evan put together that she had managed to subdue this assassin. He wasn't initially planning on involving himself in the decision of what to do with the man - though he was certainly at the ready to execute on whatever decision was made - but he caught Mizu sending him a glance, which he took to mean that she was interested in his input.
"It'd be worth seeing if we can determine what information he's relayed to the king. If he proves cooperative, perhaps something can be worked out."
Evan tossed a glance towards the man, though the nature of it was pretty inscrutable, and he quickly returned his attention to Mizu.
((OOC: I, uh, have a feeling Mizu would know that Evan's not against torturing people for information. She might even know that he's willing to carry out said torture himself, if that's a thing that would've come up, though I'm not sure how 'skilled' he is at it necessarily? I also don't think he's been on the side of keeping prisoners who could prove problematic in the past, so... Mizu might also have a hunch that Evan's comment about perhaps working something out might in fact be total bullshit. Hopefully all that's not lame to communicate OOC, but he'd be holding those cards pretty fuckin close to his chest in front of an enemy lol))
Re: Part 1
((OOC: Not lame at all. I like thinking that Evan and Mizu are in synch enough that they would each know what the other had in mind. 
))
Mizu nodded after Evan spoke and turned toward the crone. "Take the gag off." The crone's eyebrows furrowed at the command, but she did as Mizu instructed, carefully moving behind the man and untying the knots she had done. The man had a slight expression of relief at having the cloth out of his mouth, but that quickly dissipated into disapproval.
"Good to know that you traitors have sided with demons. If I had any doubts about your cause before, they're confirmed now." Mizu knew the paladin was just trying to get a rise out of her, but with how precarious things felt with the goddess, she couldn't say he didn't shake her resolve a little. She had to remind herself that this was one of the king's special force; of course he's going to be relentlessly loyal.
"Have you sent information to the king about the location of our camp?" Mizu asked with a level, even voice.
"Why does it matter? You're going to have your lapdog kill me anyway," the man replied. This second comment bothered Mizu much less, though she imagined Evan would not appreciate it. As much as, yes, she wanted the information this man had, she didn't really feel comfortable violently interrogating the man in front of the crone. And, taking the man back to camp for that end sounded messy. If anyone in camp recognized the risk this man represented, it would surely instill fear. Mizu began to feel uncomfortably trapped in a decision, but then she had a thought.
"I mean, we could always hand you over to the Demon Queen herself. I bet that matters to you." Mizu said this without any idea how that would work let alone whether the goddess would actually take him on, but she hoped the threat alone would be enough to rattle him. And, sure enough, the man's eyes widened with fear. The crone was surprised but kept her expression to herself.
"Have you sent information to the king about the location of our camp?" Mizu asked again, this time more sternly.
The man looked from the crone to Evan to Mizu to determine if they were serious and started struggling against his bindings again. Mizu glanced at Evan again, hoping he would lay the threat on a little thicker and perhaps more accurately than she would be able to.
))Mizu nodded after Evan spoke and turned toward the crone. "Take the gag off." The crone's eyebrows furrowed at the command, but she did as Mizu instructed, carefully moving behind the man and untying the knots she had done. The man had a slight expression of relief at having the cloth out of his mouth, but that quickly dissipated into disapproval.
"Good to know that you traitors have sided with demons. If I had any doubts about your cause before, they're confirmed now." Mizu knew the paladin was just trying to get a rise out of her, but with how precarious things felt with the goddess, she couldn't say he didn't shake her resolve a little. She had to remind herself that this was one of the king's special force; of course he's going to be relentlessly loyal.
"Have you sent information to the king about the location of our camp?" Mizu asked with a level, even voice.
"Why does it matter? You're going to have your lapdog kill me anyway," the man replied. This second comment bothered Mizu much less, though she imagined Evan would not appreciate it. As much as, yes, she wanted the information this man had, she didn't really feel comfortable violently interrogating the man in front of the crone. And, taking the man back to camp for that end sounded messy. If anyone in camp recognized the risk this man represented, it would surely instill fear. Mizu began to feel uncomfortably trapped in a decision, but then she had a thought.
"I mean, we could always hand you over to the Demon Queen herself. I bet that matters to you." Mizu said this without any idea how that would work let alone whether the goddess would actually take him on, but she hoped the threat alone would be enough to rattle him. And, sure enough, the man's eyes widened with fear. The crone was surprised but kept her expression to herself.
"Have you sent information to the king about the location of our camp?" Mizu asked again, this time more sternly.
The man looked from the crone to Evan to Mizu to determine if they were serious and started struggling against his bindings again. Mizu glanced at Evan again, hoping he would lay the threat on a little thicker and perhaps more accurately than she would be able to.
Re: Part 1
Evan rolled his eyes at being called a lapdog. A part of him certainly resented it, but he also found amusement in the juxtaposition of the insult right after he'd been admonished for stepping out of line. If anything, Blake was the lapdog - ugh, she probably wouldn't even object to the term on some level - and ironically enough, she was likely the closest to being ideologically aligned with the man out of anyone in the rebel army.
There wasn't a particularly witty way to inform the man of any of this, though, and it'd be pretty purely self-serving anyway; best to just move on.
Mizu made that pretty easy, as she suggested handing the man over to the Demon Queen. Evan couldn't help turning up a grin as he watched the man's expression shift in response to the idea. His grin only widened when the man looked towards him, and when he sensed a lull that could use filling, he stepped forward closer to the man, and leaned down slightly to bring their eyes closer to the same level, his expression settling into a rather sinister look.
"I've seen what she does to men first-hand. You'd live out your days naked and blind, trapped inside yourself shamefully yearning for her to deign to use you, in any way she pleases."
Evan's cock pulsed against his pants as he recalled the man who brought a towel to him, and he didn't even flinch as the band reacted with a shock. In his current mindset he relished thinking about what the man must have been experiencing when the goddess kissed and bit his neck and all he could do was part his lips with desire.
The captain took in a breath and softened his expression - though the grin never quite went away - as he stood up straight again, the bulge in his pants certainly notable, but other muscles in his body relaxing.
"Or," he offered, "You can tell us what you've communicated to the king."
There wasn't a particularly witty way to inform the man of any of this, though, and it'd be pretty purely self-serving anyway; best to just move on.
Mizu made that pretty easy, as she suggested handing the man over to the Demon Queen. Evan couldn't help turning up a grin as he watched the man's expression shift in response to the idea. His grin only widened when the man looked towards him, and when he sensed a lull that could use filling, he stepped forward closer to the man, and leaned down slightly to bring their eyes closer to the same level, his expression settling into a rather sinister look.
"I've seen what she does to men first-hand. You'd live out your days naked and blind, trapped inside yourself shamefully yearning for her to deign to use you, in any way she pleases."
Evan's cock pulsed against his pants as he recalled the man who brought a towel to him, and he didn't even flinch as the band reacted with a shock. In his current mindset he relished thinking about what the man must have been experiencing when the goddess kissed and bit his neck and all he could do was part his lips with desire.
The captain took in a breath and softened his expression - though the grin never quite went away - as he stood up straight again, the bulge in his pants certainly notable, but other muscles in his body relaxing.
"Or," he offered, "You can tell us what you've communicated to the king."
Re: Part 1
The man closed his eyes as Evan leaned down to eye level, attempting to swallow the panic that was quickly forming in his body. It was incredibly terrifying how much this soldier seemed to enjoy the idea of handing him over the Queen of Demons, and he certainly hadn't imagined that as a possibility after having so carefully tracked this priestess. He also hadn't expected her to incapacitate him with poison. The training he had been through for this, all going to waste now.
He squinted tighter as words finally made it out of his mouth at first through gritted teeth. "If you reach into my inner pocket on the left," he began, "you'll find the correspondence I was planning to send to the king. So, no, the king is not aware of your exact location." Mizu wanted to feel relieved, but his emphasis unnerved her. It made her feel as though the king had an attack of some kind in mind already. But maybe the paladin was just posturing.
"Captain Rutliff, please confirm this man's story," Mizu said stolidly.
((OOC: Evan's gonna have to reach around to the man's hip to find the pocket. The correspondence will indeed have a rudimentary map of the location of the army camp as well as information the man had collected about routines of the army.))
He squinted tighter as words finally made it out of his mouth at first through gritted teeth. "If you reach into my inner pocket on the left," he began, "you'll find the correspondence I was planning to send to the king. So, no, the king is not aware of your exact location." Mizu wanted to feel relieved, but his emphasis unnerved her. It made her feel as though the king had an attack of some kind in mind already. But maybe the paladin was just posturing.
"Captain Rutliff, please confirm this man's story," Mizu said stolidly.
((OOC: Evan's gonna have to reach around to the man's hip to find the pocket. The correspondence will indeed have a rudimentary map of the location of the army camp as well as information the man had collected about routines of the army.))
Re: Part 1
Evan nodded and reached into the man's pocket. It was tempting as fuck to make it a thing given the state inside his own pants and the mindset that accompanied it, but he managed to keep his motions business-like; the man was cooperating, after all, and Evan recognized it'd potentially work against them to effectively punish the man for good behavior.
To that end, he gave the man some breathing room as he unfolded the correspondence and looked it over. The details of the camp and their routines was somewhat unnerving, though at least knowing this hadn't been sent to the king was relieving. Still, he'd also caught the man's emphasis and the potential implications of it.
"What level of detail does the king know?"
Evan followed-up as he passed the correspondence to Mizu for her to look at as well.
To that end, he gave the man some breathing room as he unfolded the correspondence and looked it over. The details of the camp and their routines was somewhat unnerving, though at least knowing this hadn't been sent to the king was relieving. Still, he'd also caught the man's emphasis and the potential implications of it.
"What level of detail does the king know?"
Evan followed-up as he passed the correspondence to Mizu for her to look at as well.
Re: Part 1
Mizu's eyes ran over the handwritten letter, and she held back a shiver. She did not like the idea that this man had been watching them for several days at least. Were there others like him in the area? Would he be honest with them if there were?
The man growled slightly, wanting to be strong in his convictions but still intimidated by the look on the male soldier's face. Though everything the soldier had said about the Demon Queen had lined up with his understanding, he still wasn't quite convinced it wasn't a bluff.
"How have you seen what she does to men and lived?" The man asked Evan directly, narrowing his eyes and ignoring Evan's question altogether.
The man growled slightly, wanting to be strong in his convictions but still intimidated by the look on the male soldier's face. Though everything the soldier had said about the Demon Queen had lined up with his understanding, he still wasn't quite convinced it wasn't a bluff.
"How have you seen what she does to men and lived?" The man asked Evan directly, narrowing his eyes and ignoring Evan's question altogether.