Oh, We Always Whisk Our Victims Away into the Middle of the Wilderness!

Synizn

"What in God's name?" he whispers, shocked. Cuthbert is also taken aback when he recognizes Illura, truth be told. She had been dead back during his "briefing", of course...

"Stop!" I shout, drawing everyone's attention before any more chaotic actions can take place, "Before we do anything else I would strongly suggest we just take turns and just tell everyone here what each is doing here. Do that instead of panic and draw those swords and start swinging....and ask questions later.

"If you're in a position to ask," he adds darkly.

It's said loudly enough and with enough authority (despite my rather small size and lungs) to cut through the rising panic to at least keep it from feeding back on itself.

"And what good would that do?" a nameless warrior women shouts from the background.

"Well, for one it would keep a lot of blood within your veins instead of the ground," Cuthbert says dryly from where he stood, "Seeing how some of you are already injured already I rather doubt you're in any shape for more pitched battle!

"Remember: 'Swords don't kill people, people kill people!'", he adds, with mock seriousness, "And people, if you do start swinging those weapons about that's what is going to happen, people are going to die! And how then will we get answers from those slain, a seance? Pray tell?"

That was mostly directed to Prince Aaron, but was also pitched to some of the others in Ilura's camp as well. Seeing the obvious alien-ness of me and my love (coupled with the obviousness of magic about), seems to make them a bit...er....jumpy and ready to jump to wrong conclusions.

Cuthbert's barbs brings some muttered responses, but for the most part (acidic though it was) Cuthbert's barbs make sense....for the moment.

People are still on edge, but at least they aren't in a panic (in that I thank Tiamat)!

"Now I'm going to go out on a limb and say that some of what will be said might not mesh totally with what other's 'know' what happened," I caution, "Doesn't mean that it didn't happen that way or that some kind of trickery is being played out by the speaker. Given what I and the others have already seen today prior to this, I'd just say that's a given!

"I myself am as put off as some of you at recent events," I add, "Whatever happened is well beyond what I and my group normally used to dealing with! But if we tell all what has happened and such, mayhaps we shall find we are after complementary goals...and can work towards it together. Maybe."

I leave the questions of just what I'm used to out of this conversation. Wouldn't do to go into such details. Would be counterproductive, maybe even. Fortunately, nobody else has the bad taste to ask, and again I thank Tiamat for that.

1. "I'd suggest we start with Prince Aaron," I begin, "Let us see just why he's nervous around his kin! Might make for some means of working things out non-violently."

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