Roen frowned. Her fork and knife were set motionless against the dish, her appetite suddenly forgotten. The disappointment hung from her shoulders like a heavy cloak. Nero had predicted this; that Taeros would somehow elude the arm of the law, contrabands or no. She had argued for and defended the right way of doing things, whereas the pirate was a proponent of ‘whatever means necessary.’
“I thought we had enough on him. For an arrest.†The paladin flicked a glance back at him, her objection like a knee-jerk reflex whenever he condemned her ideals. “Justice has not failed. It just got stalled. Taeros has been at this much longer than you and I.†She straightened, new conviction leaking into her words. “We just have to find another way.â€
Nero did not seem convinced. He snorted derisively into his mug as he took another pull of the rum. "You could have pinned the Calamity on him, and that would not be enough for your friends to indict him." He set the drink down none too gently. "'Sultansworn'. 'Paladins'. Seems Ul'dah's knights in shining armour can be bought just like any other Brass Blade." The sneer was evident in his voice.
“They have not been bought.†Roen did not hesitate in her reply. She set her utensils down and leaned forward as if to press her point. “They believed his story. Taeros…he has a way of spinning the truth. He…†she winced. “He is blaming you.â€
Nero mirrored her gesture as he too leaned in, his gaze unflinching. “I suspected as much. He is not a foolish man, and your friends do not know me as you do. It is the logical decision."
"I underestimated how closely he had been working with both Natalie and Ser Crofte. And they know you not at all." She let out a long exhale as she bowed her head. “He is trying to paint me the fool and you the liar."
The pirate shrugged and leaned back. "None of this was unexpected. We will simply have to alter our game plan a bit. Might Crofte have told you why Taeros was shipping so much somnus?"
"They are looking for a somnus dealer. It has to do with an old case." Roen frowned thoughtfully. There was more to that, of course, but she was tired of explaining her string of troubles. "He said he was bringing in that much somnus to flush out the dealer they were all looking for. But you setting him up, ruined that plan."
Nero rolled his eyes."Breaking the law to do good. A man after my own heart." His tone was thick with sarcasm.
Roen wrinkled her nose. She did not like what she was about to ask. "You do not have...anything incriminating to be found in Limsa, do you?"
The smuggler flicked a lazy glance in her direction. "That depends. What does my business in Limsa Lominsa have to do with this?"
"Ser Crofte mentioned she was going to poke around in Limsa about you."
The pirate actually seemed amused by this. "Was she now? And what does she expect to find?"
Roen shrugged. "I do not know. I think...she thinks she is looking out for my best interest."
Nero snorted. "If that is so, then why not introduce us? If Crofte is so concerned for your welfare, let her be the judge of the company you keep." He shrugged again; his trout had been cleaned off his plate, and he picked at his teeth with the fork.
"As I said earlier and as you agreed, your friends do not know me. Perhaps it is in our best interests to remedy that. After all..." the smuggler narrowed his gaze at her; the spark of amusement was still in his eyes, but there was a steely accusation embedded in them as well. "You claimed they cared about Ul'dah as much as I did."
“They do,†Roen answered readily, her eyes narrowing at his veiled allegation. She could not help but feel slighted at his derision; even if she herself had been reluctant to return to the Order. She still trusted many within the Sultanate and she would not see some pirate defame them so.
“That remains to be seen,†Nero said brusquely.
“Alright. Perhaps you should meet them.†The paladin crossed her arms. “Then you would not have such doubts either.â€
“I thought we had enough on him. For an arrest.†The paladin flicked a glance back at him, her objection like a knee-jerk reflex whenever he condemned her ideals. “Justice has not failed. It just got stalled. Taeros has been at this much longer than you and I.†She straightened, new conviction leaking into her words. “We just have to find another way.â€
Nero did not seem convinced. He snorted derisively into his mug as he took another pull of the rum. "You could have pinned the Calamity on him, and that would not be enough for your friends to indict him." He set the drink down none too gently. "'Sultansworn'. 'Paladins'. Seems Ul'dah's knights in shining armour can be bought just like any other Brass Blade." The sneer was evident in his voice.
“They have not been bought.†Roen did not hesitate in her reply. She set her utensils down and leaned forward as if to press her point. “They believed his story. Taeros…he has a way of spinning the truth. He…†she winced. “He is blaming you.â€
Nero mirrored her gesture as he too leaned in, his gaze unflinching. “I suspected as much. He is not a foolish man, and your friends do not know me as you do. It is the logical decision."
"I underestimated how closely he had been working with both Natalie and Ser Crofte. And they know you not at all." She let out a long exhale as she bowed her head. “He is trying to paint me the fool and you the liar."
The pirate shrugged and leaned back. "None of this was unexpected. We will simply have to alter our game plan a bit. Might Crofte have told you why Taeros was shipping so much somnus?"
"They are looking for a somnus dealer. It has to do with an old case." Roen frowned thoughtfully. There was more to that, of course, but she was tired of explaining her string of troubles. "He said he was bringing in that much somnus to flush out the dealer they were all looking for. But you setting him up, ruined that plan."
Nero rolled his eyes."Breaking the law to do good. A man after my own heart." His tone was thick with sarcasm.
Roen wrinkled her nose. She did not like what she was about to ask. "You do not have...anything incriminating to be found in Limsa, do you?"
The smuggler flicked a lazy glance in her direction. "That depends. What does my business in Limsa Lominsa have to do with this?"
"Ser Crofte mentioned she was going to poke around in Limsa about you."
The pirate actually seemed amused by this. "Was she now? And what does she expect to find?"
Roen shrugged. "I do not know. I think...she thinks she is looking out for my best interest."
Nero snorted. "If that is so, then why not introduce us? If Crofte is so concerned for your welfare, let her be the judge of the company you keep." He shrugged again; his trout had been cleaned off his plate, and he picked at his teeth with the fork.
"As I said earlier and as you agreed, your friends do not know me. Perhaps it is in our best interests to remedy that. After all..." the smuggler narrowed his gaze at her; the spark of amusement was still in his eyes, but there was a steely accusation embedded in them as well. "You claimed they cared about Ul'dah as much as I did."
“They do,†Roen answered readily, her eyes narrowing at his veiled allegation. She could not help but feel slighted at his derision; even if she herself had been reluctant to return to the Order. She still trusted many within the Sultanate and she would not see some pirate defame them so.
“That remains to be seen,†Nero said brusquely.
“Alright. Perhaps you should meet them.†The paladin crossed her arms. “Then you would not have such doubts either.â€
