Naveen's face blanked for a moment before his brow furrowed and a frown pulled at the corners of his mouth.
"A moment, please," he murmured as he shifted to stand with feet at shoulder-width, hands clasped behind his back again, his head bowed and his eyes closed.
He always hated this next bit. With any luck, the captain would spare him the disturbing feeling of serving as a sock puppet.
Malms distant, off the coast of Vylbrand, Tengri's eyes snapped open and he sat up, rather precariously so, in his hammock. Circumstances had driven him to take the scenic route to the Mist, so to speak, and so here he was... cramped below decks, desperate for sleep. He would have rather remained behind in Ul'dah, to await word of Sarangerel, but this meeting he was en route to attend was a critical one for both his business and his plans.
Captain. He is requesting specifics. Shall I furnish him with the details?
Tengri pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
You ask foolish questions. Yes, of course. Was there aught else?
His reluctance stems, apparently, from some manner of obligation involving alchemy. Were I to attend to the matter in his place, he might sooner depart for Thanalan--
Tengri barked a laugh. Across the deck, another hammock shifted as its occupant rolled over in their sleep. A white tail flicked briefly into view, then disappeared again.
Done. Now... silence, if you'd please. I need my rest.
Of course, captain.
The trouble now, of course, that there was no rest to be had. Naveen had reminded him of the stakes... and though he knew her to be safe for the moment, Tengri trusted no one with Sarangerel.
No one... save, perhaps, for Renatus.
The Crow opened his bombardier eyes and looked up.
"Details could not have been entrusted to writing, and there were no Crows to spare. I myself delivered the missive while en route to another assignment, else you'd not have heard from my master until this evening."
His words came faster and faster as the tempo and pace of his speech picked up... though whether Naveen's intent was to convey urgency, or to divulge this information so that he might be off all the sooner... that was rather unclear.
"Sarangerel Geneq has been taken by one Delial Grimsong, alias Kinslayer, and an associate of hers, probable identification one Gharen Wolfsong given the man's build and vocal mannerisms. She was taken not far from Scorpion Crossing. Her current location is known to us, but the captain has determined that such information is best kept from you, so that you might better ingratiate yourself with her kidnappers. If questioned, your response will be honest and your instinctual reaction to the question will be honest also: you've no idea where Sarangerel is, and therefore there cannot possibly be any rescue attempt in the making. You are to make contact with Grimsong through what avenues you possess. You are to reassure them of our willingness to play this out, you are to assess Sarangerel's health to the best of your ability, you are to hear out their demands, and you are to relay them in writing to the staff at the Breath... whereupon my master will contact you as soon as he is able. Ahh--- and no violence, please, where Grimsong and her accomplice are concerned."
Naveen paused for a moment, to allow the man to process all of that.
"The price of her ransom will, more likely than not, prove to be information on the whereabouts and inclinations of one Raelisanne Banurein. You are to promise them such, but you are to avoid specifics. Be vague; I hear you excel at that sort of thing."
He shrugged.
"To put you at ease, my master has released me into your service for a fortnight; standard procedure, when exchanging favors. I was once an adept with poisons and other various concoctions; I can maintain the pace in your absence, if you so wish, or I can merely make deliveries, if that is all that is required."
The Crow smiled, pivoted, and pointed towards the front doors.
"Oh... one last thing. I left you a small plush doll, hidden in the bushes at the end of the path. Sarangerel's. She asked for it specifically. As a comfort."
"A moment, please," he murmured as he shifted to stand with feet at shoulder-width, hands clasped behind his back again, his head bowed and his eyes closed.
He always hated this next bit. With any luck, the captain would spare him the disturbing feeling of serving as a sock puppet.
Malms distant, off the coast of Vylbrand, Tengri's eyes snapped open and he sat up, rather precariously so, in his hammock. Circumstances had driven him to take the scenic route to the Mist, so to speak, and so here he was... cramped below decks, desperate for sleep. He would have rather remained behind in Ul'dah, to await word of Sarangerel, but this meeting he was en route to attend was a critical one for both his business and his plans.
Captain. He is requesting specifics. Shall I furnish him with the details?
Tengri pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
You ask foolish questions. Yes, of course. Was there aught else?
His reluctance stems, apparently, from some manner of obligation involving alchemy. Were I to attend to the matter in his place, he might sooner depart for Thanalan--
Tengri barked a laugh. Across the deck, another hammock shifted as its occupant rolled over in their sleep. A white tail flicked briefly into view, then disappeared again.
Done. Now... silence, if you'd please. I need my rest.
Of course, captain.
The trouble now, of course, that there was no rest to be had. Naveen had reminded him of the stakes... and though he knew her to be safe for the moment, Tengri trusted no one with Sarangerel.
No one... save, perhaps, for Renatus.
The Crow opened his bombardier eyes and looked up.
"Details could not have been entrusted to writing, and there were no Crows to spare. I myself delivered the missive while en route to another assignment, else you'd not have heard from my master until this evening."
His words came faster and faster as the tempo and pace of his speech picked up... though whether Naveen's intent was to convey urgency, or to divulge this information so that he might be off all the sooner... that was rather unclear.
"Sarangerel Geneq has been taken by one Delial Grimsong, alias Kinslayer, and an associate of hers, probable identification one Gharen Wolfsong given the man's build and vocal mannerisms. She was taken not far from Scorpion Crossing. Her current location is known to us, but the captain has determined that such information is best kept from you, so that you might better ingratiate yourself with her kidnappers. If questioned, your response will be honest and your instinctual reaction to the question will be honest also: you've no idea where Sarangerel is, and therefore there cannot possibly be any rescue attempt in the making. You are to make contact with Grimsong through what avenues you possess. You are to reassure them of our willingness to play this out, you are to assess Sarangerel's health to the best of your ability, you are to hear out their demands, and you are to relay them in writing to the staff at the Breath... whereupon my master will contact you as soon as he is able. Ahh--- and no violence, please, where Grimsong and her accomplice are concerned."
Naveen paused for a moment, to allow the man to process all of that.
"The price of her ransom will, more likely than not, prove to be information on the whereabouts and inclinations of one Raelisanne Banurein. You are to promise them such, but you are to avoid specifics. Be vague; I hear you excel at that sort of thing."
He shrugged.
"To put you at ease, my master has released me into your service for a fortnight; standard procedure, when exchanging favors. I was once an adept with poisons and other various concoctions; I can maintain the pace in your absence, if you so wish, or I can merely make deliveries, if that is all that is required."
The Crow smiled, pivoted, and pointed towards the front doors.
"Oh... one last thing. I left you a small plush doll, hidden in the bushes at the end of the path. Sarangerel's. She asked for it specifically. As a comfort."
![[Image: 1qVSsTp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/1qVSsTp.png)
