[center][h3][color=8F9779]Cormorant Sanders – Clifftop Bastion[/color][/h3]
[@Zarkun][/center]

An eyebrow slid minutely up the General's forehead when the outsider answered first.  His first instinct when it came to insubordination -to get cross- wouldn't fly here, and as such he maintained a level tone when he replied.  [color=8F9779]”I hope you are making a bad joke, Mr. Gerard.  Because we are potentially dealing with a hidden threat, we must take care not to be suspicious in the least.  I told the emissary that we were a mercenary company seeking shelter for a day in order to set up a guise.  We will not be sending out any lone operatives to skulk about until we are more aware of the town layout and habits.  If you wanted to forgo stealth, remember that everyone in remote towns like this knows everyone else backwards and forewards, and few villagers trust outsiders.  A lone outsider would be even more odd.  As a complete group, so as not to arouse suspicion, we will accept the invitation provided to us and enter Belka.  To do otherwise would be exceedingly rash.”[/color]  

He leaned on his walking stick.  [color=8F9779]”This is a military operation, Mr. Gerard, and we will carry it out with military precision.  I'm well aware that you are not part of the guild, and you may not think yourself subject to my judgments.  That is true, if foolhardy.  If there's a real threat here and you jeopardize the safety of any of my soldiers, or of the people of Fiore, I would be unhappy.”[/color]  An ominous inflection hung in the air following the last word, but it quickly vanished.  [color=8F9779]”Besides, you're here because you wanted to be with Frenzy Plant, correct?  To run off as a lone wolf would defeat that purpose.”[/color]  The eyes of the warrior guild's general twinkled ever so slightly.

Looking down at the lacrima in Damian's hand, he furrowed his brow.  [color=8F9779]”Mr. Gerard, your crystal ball seems to be defective.”[/color]  One look at the lacrima confirmed it.  A moment ago the magic-infused gem might have been functional, but now it only shone dully in the filtered sunlight, devoid of power, and it could not accomplish its purpose.  Any other lacrimas of the same kind Damian might have just so happened to have packed beforehand shared the same fate.   [color=8F9779]”Convenience always fails us at the worst times, doesn't it?”[/color]  A glance at nearby idle soldiers kicked off a wave of activity.  The soldiers began to take down their tents and pack the wagons, preparing to move into Belka.