[A] Tracking Down a Prisoner (Open) [Finished]

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Character of the Month
Prince Caspian

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Played by Cara

"Cara has managed to...create a character that is both mythical and life-like. Impulsive, moody, and yet kind and good-hearted, Caspian is just beginning to show the makings of a true leader."
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[Swiftshadow]

Swiftshadow moved quickly after exiting the caves.  Enough time had been wasted already; every additional minute lessened the probability they’d find the Telmarine again. 

Finding Stormfeather and the rest of her squad still practicing at the archery range, she sent them to fan out in different directions from the camp.  She wished for a moment she hadn’t been so hasty in dismissing the leopard’s help. She could have used his information to help her determine where their captive had gone.  She dismissed the regret quickly, though.  She doubted that the leopard knew enough about reading people to get accurate information.  Moreover, even if he could have pointed her in the direction the Telmarine had taken, there was little guarantee Adimon would have continued in that direction.  Swiftshadow had determined long ago that even with his loss of memory, Miraz’s Private Secretary still knew quite a bit about spywork.

So, her men and women would go in every direction, and hopefully someone would come across their prisoner. Tracking a person down was by no means their area of expertise, but she didn’t have the authority to send out anyone else and she trusted them to do well enough.  She herself would follow the most direct route to Miraz’ camp.  It seemed to be Adimon’s most likely destination to her, and she didn’t want to risk any of her people on so dangerous an area.

As Swiftshadow entered the woods surrounding the camp, she reflected that, as much as she hated to admit it, the leopard had been right in a way.  While she knew how to move as quietly as possible, her hoofs limited her inconspicuousness, especially when she was in a hurry.  A cat’s padded paws were more suited to stepping quickly and softly.  She didn’t regret who she was, though.  A centaur was far more intelligent and capable than most other creatures, even if there were certain abilities they had less of.

Swiftshadow paused a moment as she heard several people approach her from behind.  This close to the camp, it was likely help for her mission. She just hoped the leopard wasn’t to be among her group.

[Senzi Naffis]

Senzi had had no intention of staying behind while that overly pround centaur went out to have all the fun. He had come out of the cave a little later then she had, but she was easy enough to follow. Her tracks were as plain as day to the cat. He could tell that she was not fond of him, but he didn't know why. Yes, he had let the captive go, but with the way he had been guarded, it would have happened sooner or later. Senzi had thought it best that it happen now and then people would know. It was much better than having him missing for days without anyone noticing. The leopard was determined to get on good terms with the centaur, for he knew as well as anyone that an army divided was not a successful army.

When he closed in on the centaur, Senzi easily picked up the sound of her hooves thudding against the ground. "Greetings, friend," the cat said cheerfully, "it seems that you could use some help." He slipped into the trees and disappeared instantly. "Have you found anything of interest yet," he asked from atop a tree. He kept moving, not wanting to stay in one place since they were tracking the prisoner.

"Am I correct when I say he is probably headed for the Telmarine camp?" The cat didn't want to make any rash decisions. He had decided when he left the cave that he would follow the centaur's orders as she gave them. He didn't like it when others thought badly of him, especially when they were wrong.

[Damien Arrowing]

Damien trailed the centaur, Swiftshadow, out of the cave. He was flying above her, relatively unnoticable. Damien decided that this centaur would probably get the most productive results, so he was determined to accompany her.

He noticed the leopard joining Swiftshadow as well. Damien was of the opinion that the leopard had been wrong to let the prisoner escape, but there was nothing he could do about that now except try to get him back. His own amazing eyesight would aide this venture just as much as the leopard's stealth and centaur's skills, so perhaps they stood a chance of getting the man back into their camp.

Damien watched curiously from just above the trees as the leopard and centaur met. He seemed more readily friendly this time; perhaps he didn't want anything to get in the way of their mission. Damien approved of this conduct; he had been surprised by the lack of unity among the Narnians when he'd first arrived, but it seemed things could be on the mend. The leopard acting like this confirmed his thoughts, maybe he wanted more unity as well.

Damien twisted downwards until he had joined the other two. "I'm glad to see things going so well. It doesn't look like anyone's found anything yet, so I'll just head back up. Oh, sir leopard, I didn't catch your name back at the camp. May I know it, please?" Damien said, hovering between a few trees. His wingbeats sent hordes of dry leaves fluttering around.

[Arina Penley Carison]

Choni had followed after the others as they left the cave and whistled for her horse, Tyber. She wouldn't ride him into the woods as the sound of his hooves would be heard from quite a distance. The centaur woman would have enough of that to deal with from her own hooves.

The chestnut colored beast that belonged to her galloped towards the mouth of the cave and she relieved him of her quiver and the long case that held her bow. She watched the shadow of the gryphon on the grass as she freed her bow and slung it over her shoulder. A gold Archenland crest gleamed in the sunlight. Patting Tyber on the neck, she started off in the direction she saw the gryphon hovering, continuing through the trees after he lowered into them.

It took a few moments, but she then heard voices and followed towards the group. The centaur came into view first and the sound of the gryphon's wings. Although she could not see the leopard, she did hear them. Pushing her hair from her face, Choni joined them, a little hesitant. She hoped they would not order her away.

"What does the prisoner look like?" she asked as confidently as she could. She didn't want to accidentally capture or hurt someone they weren't even looking for.

[Swiftshadow]

Swiftshadow paused a moment to look over her companions.  The leopard had apparently not taken her hint, and had joined her party.  He greeted her with friendliness and cheerfulness, but to her, his efforts just made him seem cocky. He’d have to prove himself by his actions before she thought any better of him.  Now that he was here, she would use him, but if he tried to second guess her in any way, she’d have to work hard to fight the urge to shoot an arrow into his head. 

The gryphon landed next, and she nodded a greeting at him, glad he’d joined. An Animal in the air could prove an enormous asset to their cause.

A human woman was the fourth member of their party.  With so few humans in the camp, Swiftshadow recognized her, though she did not know her name or anything about her.  At least the woman did not appear to be a Telmarine.  The centaur wondered why she hadn’t brought a horse.  Could she keep up without one?  Well, if she stayed with them, Swiftshadow could use her help; if not, they wouldn’t wait for her. 

Evaluation finished, Swiftshadow spoke briskly, apprising her group of what they were going to be doing and answering their comments and questions all at once.  “My name is Swiftshadow, and I’m captain of the Rangers,” she explained, giving the nickname for her squad of archers.  “Our former captive is likely headed towards Miraz’ camp, though we have no way of knowing that for sure. At this point, capture any Telmarine soldier you see and ask questions later.”  She was about to give out orders, when she remembered she didn’t know any of their names. The longer they waited, the further their target would be from them, but taking a moment to learn each other’s names now would prevent complications later. 

“Names, please?”

((OoC: Blech, this post is horrible!))

[Senzi Naffis]

Senzi was glad when the gryphon approached the group. Now the centaur would have someone else to focus on instead of watching him every second for a mistake. "I am Senzi," the leopard said, answering both the gryphon and the centaur at the same time, "It is a pleasure to meet you both." Senzi's mood sank two notches when the human woman named Choni rode up. If she was going to act the way she had back at the camp, then the whole operation was doomed, but the cat kept his mouth shut. Surely the woman knew the importance of the mission and would keep her mouth shut as well.

The leopard rolled his eyes under the cover of a branch he was behind. Hadn't he just said that the captive would probably be headed towards Miraz? Either the lady centaur hadn't heard him, or she was ignoring him. That was fine, though. Senzi could handle being ignored by the over sized creature. Moving to another side of the group the cat eyed the human woman doubtingly. "Forgive me if I am speaking out of turn, but will you be able to keep up, Lady Choni?" Waiting for the others to speak, the cat easily and silently slipped up a tree. It was easier to see the entire group from this vantage point.

[Damien Arrowing]

Damien bowed briefly to the others, flaring his wings slightly. "Forgive me for not mentioning before. My name is Damien Arrowing. I shall act as our eyes in the sky," he said, laughing a little. He had waited for the Lady Choni to stop amongst them before giving his introduction, making sure all heard. "Welcome to our hunting party, my friend," he said to the woman kindly. Though she did not possess the abilities of the others there, Damien did not dispute her right to help. Perhaps she would end up being of use after all.

The gryphon, not wanting to waste any more time, raised his feathery wings. "Well, if we're finished with introductions, may I suggest that we get moving? I will stay above you all in the air and search for any suspicious activity. If I find anything, I'll alert the one closest to whatever I find, alright? Then I'll alert the others," he said with confidence. This was not the first time he had been part of a tracking party, not by a long shot.

Damien beat his wings in three powerful downward strokes, lifting his feline body into the air. Dead leaves flew around him, caught in the eddies of his wings, and fell in orange and brown clouds around the clearing. He hovered like that, at about twice the height of the centaur, waiting for the others to give the word to start.

[Arina Penley Carison]

Choni listened as the others introduced themselves and committed their names to memory. She smiled at the gryphon, Damien, because he welcomed her. The leopard, Senzi, she'd nearly forgotten she had met earlier and he knew her name, speaking it before she did and already doubting her need to be there.

"I am no Lady," she said firmly. Not anymore, she thought just as firmly. "I am only Choni. And my arrow is swift and accurate where I am not. Do not worry about me, good Senzi. I'll not be the burden you expect." Her chin stuck out stubbornly and she squared her shoulders. She felt as if she were begging her father to allow her to do combat training all over again. She had to prove herself.

Damien seemed to take charge then, if only to get things moving and Choni was grateful. She wasn't sure she liked this Senzi much and the feeling was probably mutual. The great gryphon beat his powerful wings, sending wind and leaves to wash over the rest of them, as he took off into the sky. She tried to watch him as best she could through her hair whipping about her face and the leaves swirling around her. He looked magnificent.

The wind left quickly and Choni pulled a fine leather thong from inside a pocket and quickly drew her hair back from her face. She gave a nod to Swiftshadow and didn't even bother trying to locate Senzi before setting off into the forest, hoping that the ground was soft enough from the recent storm for the fled prisoner to have left tracks in the mud. The girl tred carefully and quietly and fitted an arrow into her bow just in case.

[Swiftshadow]

Swiftshadow nodded at everyone as they introduced themselves, repeating their names in her head to remember them. Senzi, the leopard, spoke first. She wondered again why he had chosen to join them, since it was his foolishness that had allowed the prisoner go in the first place. The magnificent gryphon Damien was next, and the two-legger Choni was last. The woman claimed to be able to shoot well. Swiftshadow didn’t know how much good that would do, if the woman couldn’t even catch up with their prisoner in the first place, but if she spoke truly, at least she was not completely defenseless. Swiftshadow made a note to herself to test the woman’s capabilities later, if those capabilities did not have a chance to prove themselves in their current expedition. She knew Glenstorm had been looking for more archers.

The centaur nodded at Damien as he spoke, willing them all to move on. He rose in the air, and she began moving again as well, as she spoke, “That sounds like a wonderful plan, my friend. In fact, let’s all spread out. The Telmarine will not have stuck to the path, unless his memory is more gone than I think. Senzi” – here, she looked in the direction of the leopard in the tree – “keep to my left, and Choni, to my right. Try to keep at least one of the others in sight and earshot, but don’t wait if anyone falls behind.” She looked rather pointedly at Choni at this point. With the head start their prisoner had gotten, speed mattered more than superiority of numbers. “With only four of us, we can’t go too close to the perimeter of the camp, so keep an eye for my signal, as we’ll have to double back right before the point where I estimate the sentry perimeter begins. Now, let’s go.” They’d already started moving forwards, of course, but she meant for them to spread out sideways and take their positions.

((I hope you guys have ideas, because after this, I have no clue what to have happen until right before they meet with Drinian et al.))

[Senzi Naffis]

Senzi dropped out of the tree silently and flashed into view briefly as he crossed over to the left side of the centaur before vanishing among the trees again. He was far more comfortable when he could see the centaur but she couldn't see him. He grumbled silently to himself as he moved quietly through the conveniently close tree tops. That centaur was pinning this whole affair on him. She should have blamed the guards that were responsible for letting the captive escape in the first place. The cat did not dare to tell Swiftshadow this. Even though he hated to admit it, the centaur could easily kill him. Besides, all he had to do was stay on her good side for a while and she would eventually warm up to him.

“With only four of us, we can’t go too close to the perimeter of the camp, so keep an eye for my signal, as we’ll have to double back right before the point where I estimate the sentry perimeter begins," the centaur said. 'Oh yes, of course," the leopard thought sarcastically, 'let's just head right for the enemy and hope you know where to stop.' Senzi rolled his eyes, quiet thankful he had the tree tops to hide him. What a lack of unity. If things didn't change soon, Miraz would easily over power them and their cause would be lost.

Senzi was pulled from his thoughts abruptly when his sensitive ears picked up the sound of rather careless footsteps coming in their direction. The centaur wouldn't be that careless, the human woman was no where near the cat, and Damien was airborne. Curious, the leopard ventured a little further off into the forest, carefully inspecting the ground below him. To his delight, a Telmarine sentry was waltzing his way towards Senzi. Positioning himself above the human's intended path, Senzi dropped down onto the poor human, pinning him to the ground. The cat growled loudly, knowing at least one of his companions would hear him. "I would suggest you stay still," he told the struggling man, "these teeth aren't just for show."

[Damien Arrowing]

Damien rose steadily into the air, expertly avoiding the snagging branches that seemed to claw at his wings as he went through the treetops. The centaur seemed to have something of a plan formulated, at least in how they would track down the former captive. Damien knew a lot of different, and more effective, tracking patterns, but since they were all for flying gryphons, he couldn't really use them.

He could, however, use the patterns he knew for solitary tracking and adapt them to tracking with a ground-based group. He flew high enough above the treetops to be well out of earshot of any creatures below. That way, they would never know he was above them. He could still easily see the forest floor, though, with his powerful eyesight. He was able to see where all of the others were, and track their progress, as well as notice anything else.

After Damien had finished checking his companion's positions with the human, he looked back at the leopard's progress. With interest, he noted that the stealthy feline had captured a sentry. Intrigued, Damien snapped his wings shut in a swift, fluid motion and dove towards the trees. He snapped them open again and let himself soar directly above the canopy. From here, he could hear what transpired below and could aide Senzi if needed.

Damien saw the look of fear on the sentry's face, and couldn't blame him. Being pinned down by a large leopard could not be fun for such a frail creature. If the human noticed Damien, though, he would be even more terrified. The gryphon had the combined strength of a large feline and the aerial skills of an eagle. He didn't want the man to know about him yet, though, so he soared from thermal to thermal without flapping his wings and producing sound.

[Arina Penley Carison]

Shortly after leaving eachother's eyesight, Choni had paused briefly to hitch up her thin skirt and secure it with another leather thong at her hip, leaving the folds to hang about her thighs. It was a long standing habit she'd developed when she was younger, much to her mother's dismay, her disapproval, and her constant speeches about 'unlady-like behavior.' It wasn't as if she wore her clothes like this around guests- just when she was playing or exploring in the forests. Archenland was heavily wooded.

This small delay took all of five seconds to do before she was off again, traveling much fast than she would have with her dress tripping her about her ankles and snagging on thorns. She still was no match for the speed of the feet of centaurs and leopards and the flight power of the gryphon above. But then, she had a sinking suspicion that should she run into the prisoner before the others, she would scare him less since she was also human. From her left, she heard a muffled and vicious loud through the trees. It seemed Senzi had founf something. Swiftshadow was closer than she. Choni pressed on, further into the wood, sometimes glancing up to try to locate Damien.

She held the arrow ready in her bow, yet not so much that it slowed her. She was not built for speed or hand-to-hand combat and she especially was not made for outdoor living, but since her first archery lesson, the young blond human had always believe she was born to hold a bow.

There was a noise to her right and she felt silent, fear suddenly coursing through her. It was at this moment she remembered that not only Miraz's forces roamed through the forest. How fearless she'd felt walking in! The memory mocked her now. Her ears strained and her breathing stopped as she tried to determine if she had heard something. A twig snapped as something or someone trampled on it. Her arms raised her bow without her having to tell them to.

Her heart thumped in her chest, thundered in her ears, but it didn't douse the sound of something brushing against the fallen dead leaves on the forest floor. It was coming closer. Her muscles tensed and she pulled back on the string of her weapon. She almost didn't want to see it, but fear not only kept her rooted to the spot and armed, but it also kept her eyes wide open. Whatever it was must have known she was there, because it was very good at concealing itself as it closed in. No matter how she squinted through the trees, Choni saw nothing.

Behind a large she heard it. She swallowed hard. It moved into her view. If it weren't for the fact that she was supposed to be tracking someone down and didn't have to worry about quiet, the poor girl might have fallen to the leaf covered ground and wept with laughter. A brown hare hopped into sight from behind the tree, making the same sounds on the leaves she'd heard during it's approach. Relief swept through her, relaxing her fearful heart. Lowering her bow, she wiped a hand across her brow and curtsied to the small creature before it hopped away. Feeling very foolish, she smirked to herself and walked on.

[[OOC: Okay, I know nothing really happened, but I'm very proud of this post. XD]]

[Swiftshadow]

As they moved in the direction of Miraz’ camp, Swiftshadows eyes constantly scanned the ground for signs of a human’s passing. She wasn’t normally a tracker or a spy.  She could shoot almost any target, if she knew where it was.  But finding a target wasn’t her area of expertise. Still, she did have a bit of training in the area, and as she moved, she racked her brain for anything that might be of use on this search.  As she trotted through the densely populated forest, she kept a close eye out for human footprints.  The recent storm had left the ground still damp, and footprints would be difficult to cover up. On the other hand, it had also left a lot of damage, as fallen trees, branches, and leaves were everywhere. It would be difficult to distinguish natural damage from that caused by a human passing through.   

Other than looking for footprints or listening for sounds, however, she mostly relied on speed.  Her quarry may know how to hide his tracks, but he couldn’t outrun her.  He did have a head start, but she was confident she could make up the distance…as long as he had gone in the same direction as she. She was also kept from moving as quickly as she otherwise might, for the sake of not giving away their position.

They had been tracking their former prisoner for quite some time now, and within another half an hour, they were likely to reach Miraz’ camp.  Swiftshadow was just considering whether they ought to turn back and continue their search in another direction when she heard a ferocious growl. It had  come from her left, where Senzi had been keeping pace with her a short distance away. Had he found their prisoner?

But no, that would have been too much to ask for from the leopard.  He had a Telmarine pinned down, but it wasn’t Adimon, just a sentry. Well, they would have to make do with what they had, and see if they could get any information out of him.

“Has your king’s Private Secretary returned to the camp?” she barked at the man, her  hatred of the king, his secretary, and the soldier in front of her evident in her tone and posture.

The man, who had looked terrified when she arrived to see a large, talking leopard on top of him, now looked petrified. Swiftshadow felt no sympathy for him, as he and his people had done nothing but evil to the Narnians. It was past time for the Narnians to strike back and take back their land. When he didn’t answer right away, she moved closer, and glared at him menacingly.  With two dangerous creatures so close to him, it didn’t take more than that for him to get the picture.

“N-n-no, sir. I mean, ma’am!” he managed to make out. “N-no one has heard of him s-since he disappeared a-a few weeks ago!”

((OoC:  I figure Senzi or someone else can continue with any questioning or decide what to do next with the sentry, as this is long enough!))

[Lord Drinian]

OOC: Don't mind if I do! (But do you?)

IC:

As Drinian led the small party towards a clearing, he froze abruptly, taking a moment for his eyes to register what it was he saw. A party of creatures, crouched around . . . a Telmarine.

That done, there were no hesitations as he changed his grip on the white banner of truce (so that, should it be needed, he could twist the shaft for use as a polearm), and galloped ahead.

He was not going to see one of his men cornered and killed like this, and as he watched the creatures and figures speak menacing words, poised and ready to pounce, he broke through the thicket.

"Lay up your arms! We come in peace!" he cried, an uncharacteristic ferocity settling on his face.  For once, Drinian was glad to have such an intimidating and large charger as Glover. He sat higher than even the centaur. The sheer size of the creature had bred in it a sense of confidence; it didn't flinch as it also took in the gryphon, the centaur, the leopard . . . and a human woman.

"My Lord!" The Telmarine soldier looked towards his salvation with a euphoric temerity, uncertain that the creatures would obey.

Drinian continued to look between the Narnian creatures resolutely advancing a couple of steps more. He'd be within fighting range if they chose not to comply. He dearly hoped they would; at least give him time to bear his message to Caspian, and this war might be shorter than anyone had anticipated.

[Senzi Naffis]

Senzi laughed at the man below his paw silently in his head. Such frightened things humans were. Did such a thing as a Telmarine with a real backbone exsist? The leopard's ear twitched slightly at the approach of the lady centaur. She really was rather loud when she walked. Senzi praised Aslan silently for the gift of paws instead of hooves. The centaur was faster than him, and she could probably break his back with one, well-aimed kick, but all he needed was a brief opening and he could have her throat in his jaws in a matter of seconds. He did not dare to tell her this, though. She would have killed him on the spot. The last thing he wanted was an angry centaur running after him. And with a bow!

He was not at all surpised when a new Telmarine rode up with a group of his own. His claws instinctively flexed when he saw the humans. The leopard did not realize what he was doing until the sentry beneath his paw yelped in pain. His attention snapped down to the human briefly. "Sorry about that," he muttered, "force of habit." Lay down our arms? Who did this human think he was? He was the one that needed to lay down his arms. He was the one coming at them on a huge horse, screaming at the top of his lungs and wielding a huge pole, thought it did support a banner of truce.

Senzi lifted his paw and allowed the sentry to scramble away and hide behind the new group. He wondered if he should speak up. If he said anything, the centaur might rebuke him and then they'd all look like idiots. It would be better for him to stay quiet and not hint the Telmarine to their disunity.

[Damien Arrowing]

Damien noticed the new group of Telmarines approach, and immediately let his powerful body drop beneath the trees. His wings beat up a huge flurry of leaves in falling green clouds as he passed beneath them. He then hovered above the others, barely finding enough room in the scant space provided by the thick trees. His muscles rippled beneath his coat of fur and feathers with every flap, and his wingbeats blew everyone's hair and/or fur with the powerful gusts.

"Why should we lay down our arms, human? If we catch a Telmarine scout, we must only assume that he is coming to find our weaknesses. That is not a peaceful reason, so why should we let him go? And if you are Telmarines, why do you claim peace?" he demanded, his strong voice permeating past the loud flaps of his wings. He didn't bother mentioning that he couldn't exactly "lay down arms," as his weapon was his powerful body.

Damien watched as the human was let from Senzi's paws. He scrambled back to the others in obvious relief and gratitude at their coming. His day wasn't over yet, however. If this group turned hostile, they would all meet their deaths. Damien was an accomplished warrior even among his own kind, and he had over a hundred years of experience to boot.

He wondered further why they should claim to be coming in peace. Were not the Narnians and Telmarines at war? Or was there something he had missed? Damien didn't want to make any further moves or inquiries. Being a newcomer to the war effort, perhaps there was more information yet to be acquired concerning the Telmarines.

[Lord Drinian]

As the Gryphon's descent cast a shadow over the ground they stood upon, blowing up dust, dirt, and debris, Drinian squinted and steadied his horse, using every inch of his resolve to appear the cavalryman. The officer. An emissary and man of power. Because, he realised now, he was this man. In Miraz' army.

What he knew he had always been was a man of conscience, and what he saw, and the questions put to him caused an familiar feeling to brew within him. It was the feeling he received when he thought too much on Miraz's rule, or his father's disappearance: indignation. Righteous anger.

"Why?" Drinian asked, letting the question hang in the air, looking up a moment at the gryphon, then out towards the others, eyes lingering on the woman a bit longer, wondering if perhaps she was in trouble; if this was the way they treated humans . . .

A low groan from the man behind him gave him motivation to press on. "To honour this," he said, looking up now at the white banner, which fluttered in the light breeze. "I need hardly remind you that the injuries upon this man were no peaceful measure, either. You have your Narnian laws; that I do not doubt. We have our Telmarine ones. By Telmarine law, this man is directly reprehensible by the Lord of this land . . ." he turned and looked at the scout and gave a quiet nod, "who forgives him." He could not see, through the scout's dark uniform, the extent of the wounds, but the pallour of his face and the trembling betrayed more than fear. The man was hurt and likely bleeding.

"I have seen your Narnian law. We will differ on this and cannot make opposing sides answerable to our own codes without great violence. Our sides are, at present, only unified by one law, which both parties answer to: the Codes of War and this," he said, his jaw setting firmly, shaking the white banner, "is a sign and token we both know well. My party comes in peace. Surely you cannot think me so cruel an officer to watch you exercise your justice upon a man of my country in a means so abhorrent to me." A sneer crept over his face as he took in the sight of the soldiers. These were Caspian's army; he had deserted Telmar for these. He wouldn't have thought it possible for his friend -- his dear-as-brother -- to choose such company.

"You will know the conditions of what I have to say when I speak to your leader, Caspian the Tenth on behalf of King Miraz," he said, only hesitating a moment at using the epithet "king," but speaking Caspian's title boldly. "I ask you to conduct us to him, bringing not a challenge, but an offer. Consider how you treat an emissary of peace," he warned. "Who is your commanding officer?" he added in a low voice, looking between them in perplexity.

[Swiftshadow]

Swiftshadow had watched the preceding interactions with a seething silence.  Measuring up the strength of the opposing sides, she knew they could win, though at a cost.  For someone who was willing to pay any cost in the service of her cause, however, that was no deterrence. What did give her pause was the white banner the human who seemed to be leading the other group was carrying.  If this group really was an emissary of peace, Swiftshadow could not harm them, no matter how much she desired to. Breaking the established codes of war, even in a revolution against those who had taken the Narnian land, was not something she could bring herself to do in such a situation as this.  And so she set her teeth and waited, to see how those blasted Telmarines would answer Damien’s question.

The man’s response hardly calmed her down.   “No, pinning your scout down was not peaceful…but by the Lion’s mane, we are in a war!”  Swiftshadow raged, her tail swishing as if to emphasize her words.  Rules changed in a war, and no one was expected to be peaceful. “What does it matter to us if you forgive him?” She jerked her head towards the scout but did not bother to look at him. “What has he done against you?  I’m sure he was following out your army’s orders!” His “crime” had not been against the Telmarines, but against the Narnians. 

"You may talk all you want about laws and peace, and it all sounds very nice and pretty." Her voice grew mocking.  "But the fact of the matter is, we Narnians have been forced to obey your laws for centuries, the “laws" that decree that we should all die out and become nothing more than a myth." And overwhelmingly, the Narnians had died out, or at least, had ceased to exist the way they had before.  The dryads no longer danced; the animals no longer talked.  Those who were left were few, and half wild -- and it was not their fault.  "Only you Telmarines are exempt from obeying any other law! Why else would you invade and brutally conquer a land that was not your own by any law but the "laws" of war?"

And now they were at war once again, only this time it was the Narnians who began it.  Swiftshadow herself would do whatever it took to win the Narnians back their freedom, including intimidate a scout for information.  She still had her moral convictions -- she could not, for example, attack these men while they bore that dratted white flag -- but the shape those convictions took were far different than they were in peacetime, and among her own people.

Swiftshadow hesitated for a moment when their leader spoke of Caspian, for his naming him “the Tenth” implied that he was king.  It was likely only a slip of the tongue, for he called the twice-usurper Miraz “king” as well, but even the fact that the man subconsciously called both men king made her stop and think.  She paused still further at his request.  Was this some sort of trick?  Would they try to kill Caspian, or were they looking for an easy way to get inside to scout the camp? 

“I am the commanding officer,” she responded at last.  These were not normally her people, thank Aslan, but in this foray, she was at least nominally in charge.  And the soldier in front of her ought not to know how disorganized their army really was.  "We have come in search of your king’s man Adimon Tescar.” Her tone clearly implied just what she thought of both the man they called king and his Private Secretary.  “Tell me, has he returned to your camp?”  She would get information out of this man before giving him any more information about the Narnian army than she could help.

[Lord Drinian]

"It did not need to be a war. I am sure you agree; you must understand there are more than two sides to every story," Drinian said in precise, smooth words.

"What does it matter to us if you forgive him?" the centaur scoffed, and Drinian's expression softened sympathetically, a slight sigh escaping as his lips curled into a faint semblance of a smile.

"It'd imagine it might mean little to you how I treat my subordinates. But I would imagine it means a good deal to him. He knows that he is trespassing upon this land. He is not wanted here." The entire Telmarine army wasn't, in fact. Both Drinian and the Narnians -- the only two who might rightfully have a claim upon the land -- could agree to that. And, now Drinian might add to that the Narnian army, for he did not like their comportment. The Narnians would likely not pick up his meaning, but he knew the soldier would. "Nevertheless, I forgive him," he repeated. "Everyone has their own laws; it is true. And that is mine."

He gave a slight bow of his head in acknowledgement for her words. The soldier out of danger and the commander's deference to the flag and the cause it implied -- though not respect -- made him sure enough, brave enough to not need to show his strength or position. He slipped most comfortably back into his natural demeanour. "The Old Narnians have a long memory; the conquest was three generations ago. My father, however, lived his short life without knowledge of your existence, as have I until recently. I have lived as ruler upon this land since childhood. You never made yourself known. Had you but come to me--" he gave a sad smile and shook his head.

"I don't suppose you would have done differently than you have. Such line of inquiry will not profit us much. For my part, I regret nothing and will not take condemnation from you; I could not have done differently. For know this: it is impossible to subjugate someone you do not know exists. If you feel oppressed, it is not my doing. Now knowing, I am doing what I can to end this. I only ask your assistance."

Another breeze lifted the banner and ruffled his hair. Drinian's heart felt near to breaking as he considered the land itself, being torn apart, squabbled over by spiteful and greedy hands. It did not deserve this.

More than ever, Drinian wanted to be out on the sea, open, unassuming, smelling the air and seeing the horizon, always constant but never the same. He felt, now, he might never see it, considering the empty threats that were veiled by the even emptier promises of King Miraz -- captain in the navy, indeed! And now, the contention in Caspian's own camp.

Perhaps he had been amiss in coming here. In hoping. The look in the Centaur's eyes looked just like Miraz's, and Drinian eventually looked away, unable to smile or pacify any longer.

"I am Lord Captain Drinian," Drinian said in a peculiar, quiet voice. He waited for a name from the centaur but instead heard a mention of Adimon. He did not hide his astonishment at the news, brows knitting and eyes and breathing in sharply. Suddenly, the cover, the cause for negotiations was gone. Drinian felt himself grasping at air for a reason to speak to Caspian. It was more desperate a need now than ever. "I know nothing of Tescar's whereabouts. I had heard that he had been taken by your forces," he confessed with an open candour bordering on camraderie. "We must speak to Caspian -- immediately. This . . ." he wet his lips and shifted his grip on the banner as he thought. "Would you take us to him?" he requested.

[Abenzio Tuathal Deverell]

Thal gritted his teeth as their commander took of at a full charge towards the enemy, surrounding one of their scouts.

At the moment, he could not decide whom he was more angry at: the boy-officer or the creatures in front of him.

He could not endorse Drinian's behaviour as prudent. Charging into a situation without so much as a thought . . . sometimes it was best to sacrifice a soul for the good of the whole, and they were three.

Against four. No, not against. He remembered that banner of truce. It was a good thing, too. Thal was rather confident in his abilities to survive -- he had survived a good deal and seen a good deal more -- but he had seen little in his companion's composure and demeanour that promised the same success.

As the scout was released and came reeling towards them, Thal straightened in his saddle, prepared to strike the enemy should they follow the chase him down, or help the man should he stumble.

"Dharr," he ordered, "help that man. Here," he said, reaching out and steering the man painfully by one of his wounded shoulders to lean against his horse. "Rest here." Thal frowned deeply as he pulled his hand away, noting that it was crimsoned with the man's blood. He sent a death-glare back to the opposing line. If things went bad, Thal decided he would do his best to make sure things did not end well.

Hard and impenetrable Thal may be, he was not cruel and looked at the man with what compassion he could afford. Which was not much. He turned his attention fully to each beast before him. The bird-creature in the trees was most unsettling, to him. He had never faced such a foe, though he had hunted animals of the forest in times of need and unseated a mounted archer with ease. A centaur could not be too different. But yes. They were outnumbered, and he did not know his opposition's experience.

But he disliked them already. Thal harboured no overwhelming fondness for his commander, either, but he cringed at their casual and hostile treatment of Lord Drinian.

He glanced back to the man and to Dharr. "There is water there," he said, nodding to the pack upon his saddle, unwilling to leave his arms at anything but the ready position. He would leave the doctoring and soothing to Dharr. Women were better at that sort of thing, anyhow.