***More & More Happening***
[11:39] Discovering Destiny: they had traveled and arrived at her cottage just in time as she was exepcting Lex. looking up she spotted him not far behind her. there was almost a look of relief on her face, then she moved to him and opened her arms wide. 'tal, Lex . . . i'm so very glad to see you' she embraced him and kissed his cheek. 'i had a feeling you might come by today. would you like to come inside?' she released her embrace which she had held a bit longer then normal, stepping back
[11:39] Alexan Skytower ran up and found his yaya outside and the killer, he smiled broadly as he walked up and wrapped her up in a warm embrace,"Tal yaya!" he looked to the man and he nodded,"Tal Dru.."
[11:41] Khampoh Resident nodded but said nothing, my usual when about to talk about business with people, especially ones that I had not done much with before. I looked at Lark go over to the Free Man, then my eyes went back to the horizon and just ask "come alone?" saying nothing more since I could care less about anything but the business at hand
[11:42] Alexan Skytower nodded to her and he smiled,"Please..I've been out battling all morning.." as he looked to him and he nodded,"Yes I am alone..No reason to come with others..It's yaya after all..She would just run them off talking about eating them.." he said as he recalled the first time they'd met, his eyes twinkling at the thought
[11:43] Discovering Destiny: she chimed in, more interested in sitting and chatting with her grandson. 'i have tea . . . mead . . and a few other things inside. so come on in and set a spell. what can i get you two?' she turned and moved to the door, opening it wide so that they could enter, then moved to the kitchen to start up her tea
[11:45] Khampoh Resident entered the house, not saying a word, odin, I am here for business the Free Woman wants to have a cocktail party, I shake my head and just say "once we are done with the drinks can we just talk about..." smirking "oh I dont know... business?" shaking my head being one that loved to cut to the chase and not worry about the fan fare
[11:46] Alexan Skytower took off his cloak draping it along the floor, as he didn't wish to sully her rug with the gore of the battle or the mud of his travels, his eyes looked to her and he smiled warmly,"Tea would be nice.." he said as he looked over to Dru and he smiled,"How have you been out there and with the swell of a belly I can tell good for the most part but I do worry about you all the way out here alone Yaya when you are so obviously close to term..." as he heard the man mention business he'd had his fair share of dealings with him he smiled,"Business yes of course.." he said his brow a bit furrowed wondering what business ti might be as the man was always so hard to read
[11:48] Discovering Destiny: looking up from her work, she smled in lex's direction. 'you know, Lex . . . i have heard through various others of your accomplishments. i am proud of you and want to celebrate you today. so glad i am that you have come to visit.' she offered a nod of her head as a salute to the man. then turned back to her table where she prepared her tea, not commenting on how dru just wanted to get to business. she hummed a tune for when her relatives were close, all was right with the world. 'two teas coming up. and yes, i am closer each day . . .the good news is my physician is near here as well. she is just across the land and a short paddle away. so i feel . . well' she paused and recalled what she had been told before . . 'i feel watched over, if you know what i mean' looked at dru for a brief moment, then returned to preparing tea
[11:51] Khampoh Resident said in the usual cold voice, "well, I have three ships, with crews, but I need a man on each of them that I can rely on to do but one thing, and one thing only" I stop and look at Lark "water, cold water for me" then return to the discussion "and for that I will pay well, and will pay well to keep this a secret, that no one will know what we are doing, until it's too late to stop" looking around to Lex then lark and then back to lex "and for that I thought you would be one of the two men" adding "the other you will meet when the time comes to learn what you have to do and where"
[11:55] Discovering Destiny: once the leaves were crushed and folded in the gauze, she took the kettle off the fire and poured steaming water into two cups. then she steeped the leaves first in the one she would serve Lex. once it had steeped long enough, she lifted it and added the tea filled gauze into her cup. honey added to her own, she looked to Lex . . . 'business then visit . . .visit then business . . . i'll leave the order of things to you men' turned before she rolled her eyes somewhat, her deference to the gender rather obvious. she heard dru bark out his request for cold water. so she took a third mug and went outside to where she had a pump. muttering something under her breath about wishing it was a nut cracker instead of a pump as she lifted and lowered the handle, she filled his mug with fresh chilled water and went back inside. she paused, offering him the water before returning to get the two teas, then crossed back and handed one to Lex. 'so, i see it is business first . . so be it'
[11:58] Alexan Skytower had caught the pause in Lark's dialogue but he would wait to address it in private, he didn't not like Dru, but he also wanted to make sure he wasn't overstepping, he wanted to make sure all was actually well, but he beamed up at her,"Well Yaya, it's been a trying time and I have made some new friends and lost some others with what we have accomplished, but one could say they weren't really friends if they couldn't understand my reasons, my need to lead something more than just myself or my slaves is great...I want my outpost not only to exist but to thrive and so far it's done well.." he swiveled his granite colored gaze over to Dru and he nodded to him, the man was simply all business today it seemed and he wouldn't make business wait either, though it was a pleasure to be at home with his yaya and he enjoyed the scents of her hearth and home, as he tapped a few fingers on his knees as he listened then he sat up a bit crossing his legs to look at Dru,"Sounds quite ominous but of course I am always up
[11:58] Alexan Skytower for a challenge, Dru..Tell me how dangerous we are talking? In my current position, I still take risks daily but they are always calculated.." as he took the cup of tea he gave it a grateful sip, it had been far too long that he'd had any, one would think he lived in the lands of mead and honey and that is all that he wanted, but he did miss the teas of his own lands at times, he pressed his lips into a hard line to see Yaya so displeased with the business talk, but he'd rather get it over wtih and move on to the pleasantries.
[12:02] Khampoh Resident pondered his question of the risk "well, the risk we..." looking at him and then away from Lark and then back to him "...as in me and you and the others involved is about..." I stop to make sure he understood this "...as dangerous as it would get, meaning, wrong move means death, means death for all of us, not you, not me, but over 100 men" I stop and then licking my lips and taking my licorice root out I add to all of this "but if this is pulled off the right way, well, a city would owe gratitude to us..." adding "...and while I could give a giani's ass about gratitude, the coin that would go along with it..." thinking about what the man had just said "...would help make your outpost thrive even more", my eyes then go to the back wall and I fall silent
[12:05] Discovering Destiny: she sipped her tea, listening to the exchange. in her view, Lex was asking excellent questions. something she wished she did more of. however, circumstances were a bit different. Lark grunted as she sat, thinking of all the things she had experienced in the not too distant past. she pulled her feep up to her thigh, sitting quietly while Dru and Lex discussed. she gulped at the thought of a task so risky that hundreds of men could die. details she did not know, but one thing was for sure, she trusted Lex and his abilities. as dru grew quiet, Lark smiled to Lex . . . 'what ever you decide, lex . . . but i do know you are one of the most capable men i know. and i trust you as well.'
[12:09] Alexan Skytower quirked a brow as he looked over to Yaya a moment, then he looked back to Dru, his interest was piqued for sure, as anything to forward his own cause in his mind was worth the doing of a thing, he nodded slowly, to save a city, he shrugged a bit at that, as Drui had said it was about the coin, and a lot of coin buys more bows, supplies and well generally anything his people needed to be effective,"There is one thing I will not compromise is my honor...You will have my word on this as long as whatever it is that I must do will not cross that line.." though his statement held a hint of question, he knew that most of the things that transpired in such instances could be considered shady at best, his intentions were never of ill-intent, but he wouldn't take part in anything that would compromise who he was as a man of gor, the risk to a hundred men was something he approached with trepidation, but he did in fact risk the loss of the hundred or so of his outpost every day, something his nerves had to be
[12:09] Alexan Skytower steeled to do, if not he would falter and if he faltered, there would be none to take his place, something he'd been training his second for, as he pondered the risk, he'd done things like this in the past, his life on the ilne and that of others, but this one seemed like a big deal to Dru and he didn't wish to fail.
[12:16] Khampoh Resident said "I give you a task, simple one actually" I lick my lips and then begin to explain "there is a city, a port city, on the vosk..." no I would not give the name as of that second "...they have had a blockade, then some pretty serious hits on their lands and another blockade is approaching, to close anyway of getting supplies to them" I stop and pivot on my heel a few times "we will go in with four ships... ...three will be decoys, one will have you one it, the other will have another man, who I trust, and all you will be asked is to run the right side of the blockade, then when close enough to be seen veer hard left, with the third boat behind the two of you" I stop again "when the blockade will move some ships to see what is going on you, and the other man, will set on fire the ships, which another person will have set up for you to do". Now I paused to sip on the water "once that is done the crews will jump onto the third ship, which should be able to get to safety/shore before being caught" adding "
[12:16] Khampoh Resident: "the key is that we need about 20 minutes for the other, the fourth ship, to get the good from its deck to the docks of the city and back, they will do so by tarns..." then I stop "and I will be on the third boat, so my risk is just as much as yours"
[12:20] Discovering Destiny: lark was hearing details for the first time herself. she respected the questions Lex posed and waited to see if Dru would acknowledge them or answer them. as dru laid out the plan, Lark looked in his direction. her mouth parted when he revealed he would be on the third ship. so he was one of the three, potentially Lex the second. and someone else the third. Lark had a deeply concerned look on her face for this seemed more then dangerous. quizzical voice, she added, 'is there any way this blockade can .. can practice this technique? i .. i don't want to see anyone hurt, if at all possible'
[12:25] Alexan Skytower listened to the plan intently as he sipped on his tea, the brew warmed his belly as he sat in a form that would appear lackadaiscal to some but he was ever watchful of his surroundings, he had an eye on the door and another on the window as Dru hadspoken, he wasn't going to take any chances with anyone overhearing, even out here in Hibari, he looked to Drui with an earnest expression, as he looked to him and he nodded, as he heard his grandmother's concern he looked to his, but he didn't waiver, as he waited on Dru to answer her, he posed one of his own queries,"I see the plan in my head, but I do wonder why not do a trojan horse, there is much less risk and it can be as effective, rather than have a ship full of men however, have one guided by a well schooled captain that is put into the position he can bail once he's in position and we can burn the ship, loaded with explosives of course to blast the thing to the four winds?" he was always thinking if it be the case.
[12:28] Khampoh Resident looked at Lex "I do not give advice... most of the time" looking at the man "but there is one bit I will give you... if you accept this" looking around the room and then sipping on the cold water "if you own companies, own things, find a scribe and give partial ownership to someone... someone you care about, cause if something was to go wrong they will have them" I then give a half smile "of course I do not have anyone that I care about, and do not have anything but gold and steel, so that advice I can not follow" putting down the bowl and then listening to the two talk some more about the happenings placed in front of them. Then hearing his idea "the blockade that was once was huge, this needs to be at least several ships, with the men not knowing a damn thing until we veer left" I say to him "if there is a spy they can not believe anything but the reality that these three ships are going to bring the goods" adding "and that is why I will be on the third ship
[12:29] Khampoh Resident: cause it would look suspicious if the fleet did not have the one that made the plan" adding finally "and we will do it when it's the first cloudy/rainy day, so that they can not see much and have the city set all their ships on the side where we will "attack" from, so that it all seems legit"
[12:34] Discovering Destiny: looked down, a large gulp in her throat when Dru told Lex to leave things partially owned by someone he loved. she did not look up, but wondered. then Dru's comments, cold ant telling of how he had no one to do such with rang loud in her head. Lark's grip on her mug tightened. 'with this degree of secrecy, then there is no way to do a mock run. no way' she looked around, her own need to check that there were no prying ears close was kicking in. eyes resting on Lex, she wondered what was going on inside his relaxed exterior
[12:37] Alexan Skytower arched a brow as a little more was revealed to him, he understood the meaning of what they were doing now, to supply is to arm and to arm is to defeat an army as they sit, to run a blockade is expensive work and it is hard on the land, it took many men to accomplish such and the blockaders or invaders as it were, though enforcing an embargo for thier own reasons, would be forced to live off the land around them, as he looked to the man and realized that he may not return, the risk was worth the reward, he knew cities could be generous when they were victorious, he nodded sharply,"I see...I will have to do as much anyway. Running my outpost has been a dangerous job in itself. I risk these things daily, as I've been gromming a second to take my place in the event of something uncontrollable, I'd have to ensure my property and family well cared for.." he did have a daughter after all and the woman would be safe within the outpost, but he had to ensure that her relation to him was kept private to any others.
[12:50] Khampoh Resident stopped and then just in a cold voice, the same I used many a times asked "so, do we have a deal? And if so, what would be your price?" I did not say much else, there was no need to, this was the story, this was the job, all he had to say 'aii' or 'nai' and then as I looked around I added one last thing "make sure not to get killed between now and when we do this, would hate to have to find someone else" I smirk and laugh "and of course, you might want to know who is going to be on the fourth boat..." I thought about it and then just said "...Lilith and Lark" and said nothing else about it
[12:55] Alexan Skytower his calm demeanor was broken as his eyes switched with an ost's speed to Lark, boring into her hard, he'd wondered why Dru had left a woman in the room with them to discuss this and the manner of it's revelation was visibly shocking as the alarm on his face was apparent but it was only for a split second,"I don't know this Lilith do I?" then he continued,"Yaya doesn't need to go...She's with-child..." he was not about to negotiate it,"I can put another in her place.." the assumption that he would now go was clear,"I am in otherwise.." he stated plainly, though he fought hard to keep the level of alarm out of his voice, he would risk himself any day, but to risk his grandmother was unspeakable,"I have a captain that is as good of a fighter and as loyal to me as the day is long...she needn't be involved." he turned his head back to Dru, almost speaking as if his grandmother wasn't there, he didn't believe in putting a woman of his own ilk into the path of danger.
[12:56] Discovering Destiny: stood in a flash, dropping her mug to the ground. she had a look of utter shock and frustration on her face. 'what? i am what?' she turned to the table in the corner and braced herself, both hands placed on the top, bending over with pains in her belly. this was not what she had thought . . not in the least. it was all she could to to remain standing. 'you expect me to put y life in harm's way while i am with child?!?!' her eyes were the size of slits as she glared back, then looked at Lex, then turning her back to them again
[12:59] Khampoh Resident looked at the man, then the woman as she dropped the mug "you have shown weakness Lex" I said in a cold voice "do not ever do that again in front of me" adding "and just to be on the safe side, make sure that your yawhatever you call her is well looked after, cause..." eyes turn into slits "...if she is taken you would sing like a bird, and I can ill afford that" I lick my lips once again "are we clear on this Lex, and by that I mean, crystal clear?" I stop talking having proven my point and then pivout out of the house adding only "You will have someone come to you asking for a light, that will be the man you follow to meet up with the person who will set up the fire and who the other man will be" looking around I close the door and head to my ship
[13:04] Alexan Skytower with a smooth motion, he rose, with a predatory gait, he neared Lark, his hand easily scooping up the cup she'd dropped and placing it on the counter top as he moved behind her and he clasped her shoulders, seeing this was not something she'd expected, he was alarmed for both her and the babe or babes at this point it looked like she was heavy with child but it could have been twins or triplets it didn't matter she was in distress, his tone turned cold,"My family...Is well looked after...As for weakness, I have the strength to withstand the tortures that could befall me, it was after all my training. My family knows who and what I am. They know that I am not a simple slaver, they know to claim me is to risk their own lives and they still do so out of their loyalty and love. I do not speak on my business to anyone, even them. They know I would rather see them die at my side than to suffer in a collar or a dungeon for ages." it was a cold hard fact of Lex that no one really saw, his words was everything to
[13:04] Alexan Skytower him and he knew the risks his position would bring, the fact that others chose to love him was not his fault, he knew if he would need to, he would slay them all and cut his name from the fabric of life if it meant they would suffer less at his own hand than of of that of his enemies.
[13:09] Discovering Destiny: heard dru leave and turned to Lex . . . stunned. she shook her head. 'i had no idea, Lex. the man is . . . is . . is a beast. a beast i tell you. i wish . . wish i had . . . ' she grew silent, for words meant nothing now. the lot was cast. Lark moved to lex and wrapped her arms around him. 'i love you, lex'
[13:10] Alexan Skytower embraced her in full and all he could think of was the smell of her baking, the way her embrace made him feel that warmth in his heart, but it was encased in ice, as he kissed her head lightly,"I love you too Yaya...We have to find someone else to put in your place..You going is not an option for me.."
[13:15] Discovering Destiny: nods to him, but remains silent, knowing some things are beyond her control.
***And We Keep Going Strong***
