The night had progressed relatively pain-free for the Paladin so far. After the events of the the moon prior where the maniacal Mistress Meli attempted to charm the Sultana herself into the Cult of Pink, this night had been rather dull.
The sky was clear and the stars shown brightly amidst the dry air. Fiona Arasgain stood leaning against the high wall of a dirty building in an alley adjacent Pearl Lane. A lantern flickered above, casting long shadows across the road. Opposite her stood Coatleque with hands on her hips. She had followed the other from the Quicksand to find somewhere more fitting to exchange words.
"I have news regarding the accused smuggler. He's entrusted me with the location of his next hideaway. It's in Coerthas."
"Coerthas... that is quite the distance."
"But away from prying eyes."
"Indeed... and have you informed Natalie?"
Fiona pushed her glasses up and sighed.
"It'll be one hell of a job. And no, I haven't. I was hoping you would for me, actually."
Coatleque breathed a quiet sigh of momentary relieve at that last bit of news.
"Is he there now then?"
"I have reason to believe so, Miss. I don't doubt that it'll be dangerous, either. So if anybody is running down this lead, they best be prepared."
"I don't suppose he would parley with me then. Hmm."
"Natalie may be the best option, unfortunately. She'd charge right in, though. Still, it's an option to consider."
Yes, Natalie would charge right in. Without thought or concern. The Knight knew if she alerted Natalie of this information now, she would take the resources required and flush him out like a cornered Rat. And if Roen was there...
"Depending on the desired results. There is a reason I asked you to keep me informed as well."
"Oh? And what would that be, Miss?"
"Because Natalie has a penchant for misusing the information she has. She would simply take a platoon and march in the front door to accomplish her goal."
"Of course. She nearly got me killed in Limsa Lominsa because of it, actually. Due to a happy coincidence and a few lies, I'm no longer in danger. Also, he's asking me to bring him Ceruleum."
Ceruleum. She was becoming so very weary of hearing that word. It seemed as if it were some priceless commodity these days. All the wrong people wanted it, and none of the right people had it. But where Ceruleum is involved, large, violent holes in the ground soon follow in her experience. She decided to overlook this for now.
"So he expects you to meet him there?"
"No, he expects me to place it at a dead drop and camouflage it."
"Smart man."
"Can't have life getting easy, either. I even tried seducing him, but that didn't work, mostly because he has a significant other. Of who it is, I cannot say. Otherwise, we could capture him or her and use them as a hostage."
Coatleque blinked. She knew exactly what Fiona did not. She silently said a prayer to the Twelve that Roen would not be in Coerthas.
"No. She is of no consequence. Probably some silly school-girl with a crush on the first handsome face to bat an eye at her."
"Why not? If she's of emotional significance, it's a weakness to be exploited against your foe. After all, the only thing that really matters is power. Who is strong, who is weak. And he spoke well of her, actually. So I have my doubts that it's a passing dalliance."
"Because that is how Natalie works, not how I work. We can do what needs be done while involving as few as possible."
"Natalie lacks subtlety. She'd kill the target before she had a chance to use said target."
She needed to change this subject again, fast...
"So then do you know the actual location, or only the meeting site?"
"The base is located in Providence Point. Likely in a crag or cave."
"When is he expecting the delivery?"
"I'm not sure. But he'll get it soon. Why do you ask?"
"We need to know exactly where we are going, what we are dealing with. I could observe it from a distance, then trail the proxy back to their base."
"The drop off point is in Limsa Lominsa, so there's going to be some shipping. Plus, I board a boat in a few bells to go back and make the delivery."
Ah, finally something she could work with. She knew she had to reach Nero before Natalie. If anything else to warn Roen at the very least. If they really cared so much for each other, perhaps she could convince them to give up this mad crusade and leave Eorzea. Roen still had family after all, no matter how distant...
"And I suppose no way for me to stow-away. Providence Point is a large area to search, and very mountainous. My only other option, if not to trail them myself, is to hope I find a familiar face in Dragonhead."
"You could, if you wanted to. The only stipulation would be that you stay far away when I make the drop. I'd rather not see you hurt, Miss Crofte. Ceruleum is volatile stuff."
"And I would prefer to keep my limbs intact."
Fiona nodded once.
"Is there anything else you might want to know, Miss Crofte?"
"Aye, do you think me a fool for this?"
"Why would I think you a fool, Miss? I only think we have differences on how we operate, but we desire to see the same end result. I hope."
Coatleque swallowed at this. She knew full well her own goals no longer aligned with Natalies, nor Fiona's. Did she even have a goal in mind? No. She had determined long ago that this whole matter was not the Sultansworn's business. Her Grace's hand was not yet forced. They had no reason to intervene. This was between the Syndicate and the Admiral. The Flames would be called before the Sworn were.
"Of course. Very well... let me know when the drop is to be made. I shall travel back to Limsa with you and prepare to stow away. I must needs find out where they are hiding and see for myself before informing Natalie. We share a Palace linkpearl, so they will all know where I am once I report in."
"Meet me near the docks in two bells. I need to deal with a few things. And by the way, I didn't know that about the Sultansworn, actually. Thanks for the tip.", she said, smiling jokingly.
Coatleque gave her a half-smile in return.
"As if such a prominent organization would be mute?"
"True, but you could have used carrier birds for all I know."
"Eorzea is not -that- primitive, Miss. Two bells, near the docks. I shall be there." "Didn't mean to imply it. Just that some people are traditional. And I'll see you there, Miss Crofte. Be careful."
"Am I ever not?"
The Knight spun on her heel and made back towards the Hourglass.
The sky was clear and the stars shown brightly amidst the dry air. Fiona Arasgain stood leaning against the high wall of a dirty building in an alley adjacent Pearl Lane. A lantern flickered above, casting long shadows across the road. Opposite her stood Coatleque with hands on her hips. She had followed the other from the Quicksand to find somewhere more fitting to exchange words.
"I have news regarding the accused smuggler. He's entrusted me with the location of his next hideaway. It's in Coerthas."
"Coerthas... that is quite the distance."
"But away from prying eyes."
"Indeed... and have you informed Natalie?"
Fiona pushed her glasses up and sighed.
"It'll be one hell of a job. And no, I haven't. I was hoping you would for me, actually."
Coatleque breathed a quiet sigh of momentary relieve at that last bit of news.
"Is he there now then?"
"I have reason to believe so, Miss. I don't doubt that it'll be dangerous, either. So if anybody is running down this lead, they best be prepared."
"I don't suppose he would parley with me then. Hmm."
"Natalie may be the best option, unfortunately. She'd charge right in, though. Still, it's an option to consider."
Yes, Natalie would charge right in. Without thought or concern. The Knight knew if she alerted Natalie of this information now, she would take the resources required and flush him out like a cornered Rat. And if Roen was there...
"Depending on the desired results. There is a reason I asked you to keep me informed as well."
"Oh? And what would that be, Miss?"
"Because Natalie has a penchant for misusing the information she has. She would simply take a platoon and march in the front door to accomplish her goal."
"Of course. She nearly got me killed in Limsa Lominsa because of it, actually. Due to a happy coincidence and a few lies, I'm no longer in danger. Also, he's asking me to bring him Ceruleum."
Ceruleum. She was becoming so very weary of hearing that word. It seemed as if it were some priceless commodity these days. All the wrong people wanted it, and none of the right people had it. But where Ceruleum is involved, large, violent holes in the ground soon follow in her experience. She decided to overlook this for now.
"So he expects you to meet him there?"
"No, he expects me to place it at a dead drop and camouflage it."
"Smart man."
"Can't have life getting easy, either. I even tried seducing him, but that didn't work, mostly because he has a significant other. Of who it is, I cannot say. Otherwise, we could capture him or her and use them as a hostage."
Coatleque blinked. She knew exactly what Fiona did not. She silently said a prayer to the Twelve that Roen would not be in Coerthas.
"No. She is of no consequence. Probably some silly school-girl with a crush on the first handsome face to bat an eye at her."
"Why not? If she's of emotional significance, it's a weakness to be exploited against your foe. After all, the only thing that really matters is power. Who is strong, who is weak. And he spoke well of her, actually. So I have my doubts that it's a passing dalliance."
"Because that is how Natalie works, not how I work. We can do what needs be done while involving as few as possible."
"Natalie lacks subtlety. She'd kill the target before she had a chance to use said target."
She needed to change this subject again, fast...
"So then do you know the actual location, or only the meeting site?"
"The base is located in Providence Point. Likely in a crag or cave."
"When is he expecting the delivery?"
"I'm not sure. But he'll get it soon. Why do you ask?"
"We need to know exactly where we are going, what we are dealing with. I could observe it from a distance, then trail the proxy back to their base."
"The drop off point is in Limsa Lominsa, so there's going to be some shipping. Plus, I board a boat in a few bells to go back and make the delivery."
Ah, finally something she could work with. She knew she had to reach Nero before Natalie. If anything else to warn Roen at the very least. If they really cared so much for each other, perhaps she could convince them to give up this mad crusade and leave Eorzea. Roen still had family after all, no matter how distant...
"And I suppose no way for me to stow-away. Providence Point is a large area to search, and very mountainous. My only other option, if not to trail them myself, is to hope I find a familiar face in Dragonhead."
"You could, if you wanted to. The only stipulation would be that you stay far away when I make the drop. I'd rather not see you hurt, Miss Crofte. Ceruleum is volatile stuff."
"And I would prefer to keep my limbs intact."
Fiona nodded once.
"Is there anything else you might want to know, Miss Crofte?"
"Aye, do you think me a fool for this?"
"Why would I think you a fool, Miss? I only think we have differences on how we operate, but we desire to see the same end result. I hope."
Coatleque swallowed at this. She knew full well her own goals no longer aligned with Natalies, nor Fiona's. Did she even have a goal in mind? No. She had determined long ago that this whole matter was not the Sultansworn's business. Her Grace's hand was not yet forced. They had no reason to intervene. This was between the Syndicate and the Admiral. The Flames would be called before the Sworn were.
"Of course. Very well... let me know when the drop is to be made. I shall travel back to Limsa with you and prepare to stow away. I must needs find out where they are hiding and see for myself before informing Natalie. We share a Palace linkpearl, so they will all know where I am once I report in."
"Meet me near the docks in two bells. I need to deal with a few things. And by the way, I didn't know that about the Sultansworn, actually. Thanks for the tip.", she said, smiling jokingly.
Coatleque gave her a half-smile in return.
"As if such a prominent organization would be mute?"
"True, but you could have used carrier birds for all I know."
"Eorzea is not -that- primitive, Miss. Two bells, near the docks. I shall be there." "Didn't mean to imply it. Just that some people are traditional. And I'll see you there, Miss Crofte. Be careful."
"Am I ever not?"
The Knight spun on her heel and made back towards the Hourglass.
