Peeping through the throne room's door left ajar by careless hands, the dark fIre's image burned brightly in the eyes of a curious onlooker. Watching as the stone exchanged hands alongside parting words,
“… avoids destruction.”
The stranger tilted his helmet in habit, as if it would somehow mask his jarring appearance should he be found, but listened quietly to the details of their plans .......
He had previously been raving down the hallway, shouting "Gehenna! Gehenna! GEHENNA!" after busting through the palace doors as part of a promise to an old friend, inevitably catching the attention of more than a few guards like they had planned, as his comrades snuck off in the commotion to commit less legal deeds. Though perhaps as a unexpected boon, it had also served to warn some of the less-vigilant militia to the impending invasion and their attention turned to the Jehennan forces soon after, rather than the crazy old man who sought refuge in the safety of the Keep.
Tensions were high amongst all present, palpable even, when suddenly he heared his name called by an all too farmiliar voice:
"Ret! We got the stuff!"
He immediately turned to his right and saw a young man leaping off one of the knights with surreal agility, always the showoff as usual. 'Ret' as he was called, raised one finger to his shaggy lips as a hint to lower their voices, as he carefully pushed the door another inch closer to being shut.
"Baldy!" A moniker that Archibald had already time and again told Ret not to call him by, for it made the youngster sound like some actually hairless chump hiding beneath a blonde wig. .......But old habits die hard.
One by one, he watched them skid to a stop in front of him, leaving a trail of potatoes then comically discussing their next set of actions like they usually do.
"More like the Spike Gang from how they act,"
"So...Win win you said,..."
"I dunno, maybe we can...what's the word?"
"Parley?"
"Yeah, thats the word."
"No. No Aiph. No parley." Ret interupted, hurriedly shaking one large hand side to side. He seemed a bit more concerned than usual, like he had just found out something of note. The odd looking man then tried to explain further to his comrades by pointing a finger to the entryway behind him,
"Protect prince. Prince has stone. Prince run with stone. Keep prince safe. Keep stone safe."
He paused, "If stone not safe. World ..." Ret furrowed his brow, seemingly perplexed to find a word. "...Go BOOM!" Entertaining sound effects and gestures, courtesy of him, followed shortly.
Ret was beyond all doubt - a maestro of words.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time was pressed short, to their left beyond two battle ready Gradians, were two fighters looking at them with over-confident grins. Ret clearly did not like that, he pounded his fists together, getting ready for battle.
"I hold line. Buy time. You keep stone safe." He told Archibald without breaking eye contact with the fighters, till one of the fighters faltered and blinked, Ret responded to that with a smug grin before turning behind and hollering to the only priest in sight.
"Come! Faith man! We hold line! Show them light. Show them strength. Show them who boss!"
