>>FROM:@STORMBORN | >>TO:@ALL

[dorzalta]

I ask that you use caution if encountering Yhych in the courts. Or at least carry with you an anti-toxin.

[ dot dot dot . . . ]

Is anyone a weapon-maker here?



>>FROM:@STORMBORN
>>TO:@BURGERKING, @PONYTAIL, @MODERATUS, @POINTANDKICK, @DIEDHARD, @BOARING, @AEGONNER, @PERSONALSTAFF

Ignore my next message until you are alone or are able to control your reaction.

[ There will be a pause, one which seems to tick away as an eternity for her. And then: ]

I'm told Kebechet is here.

Comments

[dorzalta]

Thank you.

[ That's--she's flattered. Honored, even, that he trusts in her judgment that much. ]

As an investigator, she's accustomed to certain techniques to gather information. Some of our allies are firm in their belief that there is no benefit to be had in interrogating someone whose specialty lies in that field.

What you feel of her is valid and is something I would say we all feel. You've firsthand experience with her, don't forget that.

[ Those who were held hostage by her, at the very least. ]

My father would have executed her on the spot for the insult. I don't think it's weak to spare her, but only if we've something to gain from it.

Even if we did obtain information from her, we have no way of knowing it's either true, or current.

[lonelywar]

[He knows that this isn't his arena of expertise, and that you're far more suited to it than he is. There is much about their current situation and their current plans that he doesn't necessarily agree with, but how is he supposed to trust his own gut when the last time he'd done such a thing, it'd led to the trouble they'd caused in Paris?]

You are most likely correct. I do not see her parting with any information unwillingly.
And, yes, whatever she may divulge to us might be something meant to lead us astray, considering this is much of what she seemed interested in doing during our captivity.

[Much about the situation is difficult.]

I have no love for Kebechet, as I am sure you understand. But it is difficult for me to agree to assassination so easily.
But this is borne of the conflict of my heart. This is war, and I know that such things might be necessary.

I mean to say this only to agree with you. I have no intention to pursue her for revenge. But if to kill her might win us our cause, or protect our number in the future, I will agree to it.
And I will do what I can to help, though I will relinquish to another the duty of holding the knife.

[dorzalta]

Do you believe any of her words were truth?

[ Kebechet had been.... conversant with her, when she'd not barraged the woman with questions about her loyalties. It was curious. Not enough to soften Dany, but enough to make her a touch hesitant to make sweeping generalizations. ]

I will command it, if need be, and should it serve our primary purpose here. Your aid and wisdom is enough. Vengeance is sweet on its own, and I will take what is mine, but it has its time and place. If it will sate our people, then perhaps that, in and of itself, deems it necessary. She stands in opposition to us. She did something to Noctis, before we lost him.

[ Remember your words. She closes her eyes. ]

Mordred will want the knife.

[lonelywar]

It is very possible Kebechet lies with the truth.
It is possible she is like Xici and she believes all that she says, regardless of how it might be to us or in actuality. She can tell us pieces of the truth to try to manipulate our perception of the whole.
The Regency are clever. They know that being caught in a lie would lose us as future pieces in their plots. So I am always cautious of a deeper level of deceit with them.

[Sometimes your enemies did not seek to lie to you; Ashitaka had bore the truth of his curse to Lady Eboshi, and she had immediately showed him all of her secrets, not backing down from what she sought to do to safeguard them. The Regency gives him a similar feeling; they banked so much on their seeming integrity.]

I will not lecture you on the stage we stand nor the different enemies we face. I know you have more experience in this than I do.

[The news of her hand in perhaps orchestrating what happened to Noctis twists in his gut, but — to view this with anger or with any thirst for retribution was dangerous. He knows this intrinsically.]

She may have it, if it suits all of us.
We simply must act in a way that wins us this arena here and also sets us up for victory in our overall war.