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Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The bearman snuffed, raised an eyebrow and made an amused expression at Matilda's rebuttal of the prince's hero-worship for that slimy, rancid fish-- this "Admiral Delving," returning the "I told you so" expression tit for tat.

"We shud git goin'-- We stays in one place-- and dey's af'er us-- it gunna be bad. Kid, I's stickin' ta ya like pinetar & cockleburs. Sumbudy wants ta 'nap ya a'gin, gunna have a right angry bear up e're arses firs."

and with that-- he followed the pair through the cellar and back upstairs.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

After moving up the passageway sufficiently to be past earshot and visibility of the villagers that had been trapped in the cellar, Cedar padded closer to Matilda and Alec, addressing the former, while standing near the latter.

"So, wat da plan? E'res just too damn many people as shoul'n' be in taown... Cain't be coicidence! Izzat why ya wann'd meh ta go back up? What goin on?"

So many questions, and short on time-- It sounded like he was an excitable child-- though to most humans learning his actual age, they seemed convinced of that fact regardless.

"Whe're we gunna secu're da prince at?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar was both elated and unnerved to see two more of the rescue team down here with him.

His mind reeled with scenarios that could spawn this eventuality:

Were they fleeing?

Did they come down to get him? (Was it because he didn't come back right away like a called dog? Don't they realize this is some serious shit we're in?)

Something else entirely?

Over the top of all of those thoughts, (why NOW, when I can't afford to answer or act like I recognize them? If I break my cover, the villagers will panic for sure!) He thought anxiously to himself.

He gave the prince a big eyed Puppy faced look, desperate for him to play the act he desperately needed him to do...

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The prince's excitement was not reassuring. Who BETTER to send than somebody the boy trusted so deeply, if the goal was kidnapping him again... or killing him.

After all he had just been through, his mind was a relentless fountain of terrible thoughts too unspeakable to name let alone utter, and through all of them, a mental image of his home and nearby village on fire.

He shook his head crossly, trying to force the image and implication of this being a deception meant to lure them back into a trap from his head, but only half succeeding, then responded to the prince.

'List'n Alec, I just done an' did in at wrinkled ol' sumbitch inna multi-color'd pyjamas, I ain't tuh keen on gittin' fuck'd o'er by no damn rott'n fish 'rear admiral', gots it? Think 'bout it a minute: who be'er ta nab ya ag'in 'an sumbuddy yas trusts implicit like? 'Specially if dey da 'smooth talkin'' type, ya know? At black thingmabob were likely da work a dat white ol bedsheet, Doct'r Solom'n. He da one as found sum scary new way ta cajole da dead like 'at. Why he'd be want'n us ta head back be anuhbody's guess, but I dun wan' be caught wit no way out down 'ere, if'n we goes investigates what dey up ta. Le'ss fin' a way out on 'is end AFORES we go an see whats-what back atta way. Dey dun set us up a ambush? We gots a straight shot outta here, we plays it smart firs'! We JUS' got you outta em' murd'rin' asshole's slimy blood-stained hands, I don wanna jus' slip ya right back in em, chasin' lit'ral ghosts with muh britches down an' no plan, aright?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"'VonnIe said he were 'admiral' somebody. Made a sarcas'ic joke 'bout him bein' far away from da sea. --His story done stink like a rottin' dead fish, 'ats asure!'

Upon hearing the sounds of crying children, desperate villagers, and catching the smell of blood, sweat, and a heavy air of fear and despair from up ahead, the bear stopped cold, listened intently, snuffed the air then cursed.

'Aww shit.'

"Mister Cedar?" Asked the prince in confusion.

'Look kid, Mos' people's dun really like havin' yers truly sneakin' up on em in de dark, let 'lone dark, tight places like 'is. They tends ta ... ... 'take exception' afore Is kin e'en git a word in edgewise--' his voice trailed off in volume, but kept right on uninterrupted as he muttered worriedly to himself. '....ok, think ya dumb bear... how ya gunna git outta dis dump without becommin' some dumb fuckers rug? .... think....'

The bearman literally sat on the ground and bowed his head down, with an inscrutable, but tense look about him for several seconds, before slowly turning it toward the prince again.

"Ok Alec, here what we gunn'a do-- Yer name aint Alec. Think a sommat right naow, an stick wit' it. You's a peasant boy from Pesti-- an I's yer pet bear, got it? Yas was usin' meh to hunt fer mushrooms, an' got caught in'da storm earlier. Ya headed fer da firs' intact buildin' ya coul' fin', and foun' da keep deserted, got it? Call meh what'er ya like, I'll go along wit' it an' play muh part-- just try an' keep it sommat respectful, yahear? I dun wanna be havi ta ans'er ta no fuckin' 'fluffy' shit, got it? I dun' know how ta talk, but is 'real smart 'n playful' got it?'

He waited for the prince to nod his understanding, before continuing.

'An one more thang-- grab wha'ere bit a paper ya kin git yer purdy manicured hands on! Paper, Parchment if'n dey gots it, hell-- rip da labels off'n some wine bottles, I dun care, 'slong as it some paper. Git some, or anuhthang else likes it, and shoves it in ya pockets, all discrete like, got it? I's been separated frum muh own clothin' at da moment, an aint got no pockets, so I needs ya ta do dis. Is real important."

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar paused. It was only reasonable for the boy to be concerned, all things as they were.

He pointed behind and generally upward.

'At greasy sumbitch up 'ere knowed too damn much. Like how you'd be 'ere at'all. Da way he said ya was in a 'convoy', an it were in trouble. Only convoys ya been in were ya huntin' group --ol' fellar survive' buh the way-- an' em murderin' ass pustules as drug ya here. Hell, we's followinleads from li'eral DEAD people tryin ta get leads on ya,an' scryin day an night af'er. Weren't sure if'n ya was 'ere or at pesti. More 'an dat, I blocked de damn roads in TREE differn' places 'tween here an' dere, an he jus' stroll in!?'

He huffed a breath.

'--An 'AT slippery sumbitch gone an dun knowed right where ya is, like he knowed da whole time? What he take us for, mo'rons? I tells ya, they werent no odder clues where yas was bagged as would point here, how dat fucker know? I aint riskin losin sight a ya fer nuttin, at's what. We gittin' you outta 'ere, and back home ta ya pappy, or dyin' tryin!'

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The slippery talk continued upstairs as cedar reached a heavy wooden door with well worn tracks on the floor leading through it. It was of course, shut tight.

"I assure you I am not here to disturb your mission for my own personal gain, or to seek any kind of fame. Please resume your plan as you see fit, all I ask is for us to be with you until we reached the capital. You may choose any route you prefer and share not your thoughts with us, that is fine with me."

Came that buttery voice through the overhead flooring.

(The hell you say, you slippery leech.) He roiled inwardly, looking for how to open the damn door.

It had a bit of a sticky latch, and he did not dare try beating on it. The prince however, seemed keen on getting out too, and had smaller and more nimble fingers. After a few attempts, he got the door latch unstuck, and the door open.

Cedar gave him a silent gesture of approval, then the two slid into the cramped and musty service corridor, closing the sticky latch behind them.

The floor sloped downward, and the corridor was cramped, at least by cedar's standards. He was relegated to going on all fours to avoid crouching, and it was barely wide enough for 2 humans. Cedar had no choice but to walk behind the prince into the gloom...

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar glowered. He found he did not like this man upstairs, whoever he was.

('The prince's convoy', and 'in trouble' my soggy furry ass!) He raged inwardly. He knew well enough that the prince had been ABDUCTED, and further, that the abductors had been murderers and shysters. They had MURDERED Reinhold's friend, and the old hunter had not slept in DAYS from tracking their sorry bitch asses here.

Whoever that sweet talking asshole upstairs was, he had given himself away.

He pointed furtively in the direction the draft was coming from to the prince, and moved as silently and with purpose as he could.

That buttery son of a bitch would NOT worm his way into running off the prince, even if it killed him.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Cedar's teeth instinctually bared, and his ears couldn't decide if they wanted to be pricked up in alertness, or flattened back in irritation. The conversation had overtones of barbed caution, but staunchly refused to land on either side of the question his instincts demanded answer to.

Friend, or Foe?

The prince had finished tugging on a pair of worn suede leather trousers and a coarse linen cambric shirt, but had done nothing about the fancy haircut... or the manicured fingernails. An attentive person would still spot him. He also reeked like fine castille soap, but cedar knew human noses were awful, and gave that a pass.

He needed an exit plan, just in case, and snuffed intently at the room, seeking cues about drafts, or frequently used avenues through the cellar used to move the goods around. He doubted very much that they lugged the oversized pickling barrels down here via the stair leading to the dining hall-- that would be absurd.

A draft caught his nose, from one of the far walls.

So, at least there was a way out if the cellar... he needed a way to secure the prince. With furtive purpose, he loosed a rope wrapping from one of the larger barrels, and began wrapping and looping it about himself.

The prince looked at him confusedly and expectantly, but he held a blunted claw to his lips, urging silence.

The rope reeked of sour kraut.

He kept working, continuing to listen intently.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Passing the preserved comestibles with a delighted interest in them (and plucking a copious handful of sundried raisins from a nearby barrel into an eager mouth) Cedar made his way with the prince to the far back of the cellar.

His enthusiasm and mirth at being practically surrounded by food quickly gave way to dread, as an unfamiliar voiced drifted in from upstairs, sendung his fur upright and bristly despite the wet and mud. He had blocked the roads himself-- NOBODY should be paying a housecall!

Silently, he motioned the prince to remain quiet, and hurry getting changed while he listened intently to what was happening upstairs...