[Mkguild] The Illusive Chain: Coincidence (14/?)

[Azariah Wolf]

Almost forgot today.

-LurkingWolf

___

"Should we begin?" Balrog suggested."As has been said already, the 
longer we wait the riskier this business becomes."

Lucy nodded."Yes, you're right.We'll need most of the floor area for 
this; Julian and Nathan, if you would be so kind as to move Lois and the 
table to one side?I need to discuss the enchantment with Balrog."

Julian kept an uncertain gaze on Balrog for a few moments before nodding 
and walking to the table to pick up the small cage where Lois was 
trapped while they worked.He set it onto a nearby chair, and returned to 
aid Nathan as he lifted the table and shifted it to one of the walls.

Lucy and Balrog stayed to one side, the young girl quietly discussing 
her idea for what sort of enchantment they would need as her companion 
listened.The lutin stood beside her, quietly considering her ideas as 
she spoke.Alex watched them, clearly impressed by the lack of hesitation 
shown by his party's mage.She stood beside the lutin as though he had 
never lowered his illusion, speaking with him on thoroughly civil 
terms.While the lynx had spoken up on Balrog's behalf a few moments ago, 
he still had no doubt that actually conversing with him in such close 
quarters would still be difficult.

Balrog was hardly a bystander in the conversation either.Every few 
moments he held up a hand to forestall her speech and suggested an 
alternative.Although he could not understand their discussion, Alex 
could read Lucy's body language well enough to see that almost every 
suggestion that the lutin made was a good one.

Nathan and Julian remained by the table once they had finished moving 
it, the ermine in the cage to their side watching them in 
confusion.Although neither had moved, however, neither had decided to 
strike up a conversation with the other either.They stood there, Julian 
eyeing the lutin still, and Nathan glancing around the room with no 
certain focus.Alex caught Julian's attention and stepped towards the 
door, away from the prying eyes and ears of the rest of the room.There 
was no need to take the trouble, though; Julian again raised a shield 
against eavesdropping as he joined his commander.

"You surprised me," Julian admitted as he faced the lynx."I did not 
realize that your trust extended to lutins as well as strangers."

Alex absorbed his newest companion's quiet criticism without reaction.He 
wanted to decide the direction of the conversation."I know that you are 
used to Nasoj owning the allegiance of every lutin in the North, but 
that rank is nothing but pretension at this juncture.Many things are 
changing; surely you must know the extent of Nasoj's weakness more than 
most."

"Only the man's allies are weak," the moondog cautioned severely."The 
man himself has lost none of his considerable power.I tell you, some may 
run from him now in fear of another failed engagement, but at the first 
word of a battle cry from the north they will turn back as quickly as 
they did at the first.The fear he command is the truly dangerous thing 
about Nasoj, and the man is more than aware of it.He will allow you to 
seek out allies among his subjects without comments, because trusting 
them will make you hesitate to cut them down when they rally back to his 
banner."

The conviction behind the moondog's words shook Alex's confidence 
slightly, but he was acquainted with the responsibility of command, and 
knew that he could not show it.He stood his ground, intentionally 
waiting to give Julian some time to calm himself.The moondog tried to 
maintain eye contact, but he glanced away after a few moments of heavy 
silence.He shifted uncomfortably where he stood, putting his paws on his 
hips.

"I believe you are earnest in your concern," Alex assured him."You know 
far better than I do the strength of our enemy.Although that may be 
true, however, I trust these men.If they wished to harm Lois, they could 
have done so at any time over the last day.They have provided real help 
in your investigation.Now, Balrog reveals this secret, which he knows 
could mean his death, without being prompted or suspected of anything."

"He might have been concerned that the attempt to save Lois would have 
put him under scrutiny.It could all be a gambit to keep our trust."

"You do not think I have considered that?" Alex asked pointedly."I have 
decided to trust them for a variety of reasons, but not the least of 
those is that I trust you and Lucy to make quick, decisive decisions 
should a threat present itself."

"That is why I drew my blade," Julian insisted.

"I never criticized you for that," Alex pointed out."I merely took the 
time to assess the situation myself and decided that he was not 
threatening us.You have done exactly what I wanted you to do so far, but 
there is danger in remaining so clearly suspicious of him."

Julian snorted and shook his head slowly, but his downcast eyes were 
focused beyond the floor as he considered."You want me to make him feel 
comfortable," he mused to himself.

"Exactly," Alex replied."I am aware of the possibility of danger here, 
but I am also aware that Lucy knows what she is doing.Many hands make 
light work; even if he does intend some trickery, Lucy will be able to 
see it coming.Until such an attempt is made, I trust her to make use of 
a second enchanter to accelerate the process."

Julian allowed himself a thin smile."You're harder to read than I 
expected," he admitted.

"This is not my first crisis," Alex pointed out."Be careful, but don't 
be obvious about it.For now, strike up a conversation with Nathan.Talk 
to him about anything, but keep his focus on you.If something happens, I 
will need you to fight him on your own.As Balrog can sustain a powerful 
illusion for an extended period, I would be helping Lucy if he tries 
something."

Julian nodded."Does Lucy know what you are planning?" he asked.

"I haven't told her about it specifically, but I trust that she knows to 
be careful.I may not have worked with her for very long, but I know that 
it is dangerous to be on the receiving side of her ire."

"Very well," Julian muttered."I will go to my assignment.I do not know 
how comfortable I can seem alongside a lutin, but I will do my utmost to 
be convincing."

"Good.If all goes well, perhaps we can teach you that not all lutins are 
out for your blood."

The two men ended their meeting, and returned to the room.Nathan was now 
sitting on the chair where Lois had been placed earlier, having moved 
the cage to sit on the table once more.He looked up as Julian 
approached, giving a small smile to acknowledge his presence.

Alex took up his post beside the door.With an undisguised lutin standing 
in their midst, he didn't want any visitors to enter unannounced.Balrog 
himself had moved to the center of the room alongside Lucy, both of them 
holding a small rod of chalk in their hands.Lucy had already sketched 
the central circle, and was instructing Balrog as to the pattern of 
curves the man's hand would need to trace to join their halves into a 
working whole.The discussion was brief, and soon the two were 
meticulously fashioning the enchantment with careful hands.Alex 
stretched.Hopefully, the process would not take terribly long.
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