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[Arcana]

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Arcana left Yew in a strange mix of a foul and distraught mood. Things in that town had certainly gone down the privy hole in a hurry. It wasn't surprising given the personalities involved. Though she liked Lilyth, she considered Kotare as bad an arrogant loose cannon as YTC considered Arlin. And though she loved her half-ogre dearly, diplomacy and patience were not even remotely his strong suits. She'd told him as much, adding that running Yew like an armed camp might inspire obedience but it would never earn respect from the Yew Town Council. Nor would ultimatums.

"I don't have t' prove mahself to no one," Arlin had retorted.

"But you do, love," she replied, softly, trying to ease the sting of her words. "They only know you as a mercenary. They have nothing else to judge you by."

Arlin shrugged and sighed, saying nothing for a moment and then asking, "Arcy, would you still help me, if it comes to a war?"

Arcana hadn't been able to hide the stricken look that crossed her face before she looked down. "Arlin, I...."

He held up a massive hand. "Fergit I asked." After a moment he added, "Ah've no right to ask that of ya."

She sighed heavily then looked up with an almost angry intensity behind the bitter sadness in her blue, blue eyes. "This whole bloody mess is insane. You should be fighting the orcs, not each other!"

"What am I supposed to do then, stand thar an' let mah men be killed by Kotare?" Arlin retorted.

"No, of course not," she answered. "But do Kotare and his men stand for all of Yew? No, not any more than your army does, like it or not. Participating in that Council would have been the better route to peace..." she trailed off, realizing she was rehashing ground long past.

"All right," Arlin said after a long silence and another sigh. "I'll give it one more chance for peace. I'll send Dom. But ah want Kotare punished.”

Arcana nodded, but did not feel particularly optimistic.

“Sure was convenient that all this happened while I was out of it… Council marchin’ their army through mah city."

Arcana frowned slightly at hearing the Council’s supply escort described as an army, but had another thought close on its heels that distracted her from that particular discussion. “Arlin… do you think Kotare might have hired that assassin?”

Anger clouded Arlin’s face and he nodded slowly.

“If you had proof, that would cause quite an uproar in the Yew Council. Could that sort of information be bought?” She cleared her throat slightly, “You still know those kind of people, I suppose?”

“Dymm or Murdoc might know somethin.”

"I hope so… that would be extremely useful information if it was anyone on the Yew Council. I should let you get back to your troops," she finished, though wishing he could stay with her.

Arlin nodded and rose, kissing her tenderly on the head on his way out of the office. It did not reassure her as it usually did.

No, she did not feel optimistic at all. On the bright side, maybe the orcs would be laughing too hard to fight well.

[Dominatria]

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"We'r given em one more chance a'peace."
The order from Arlin came abruptly. Not even overnight the angered man was now collected, and about as calm as the Commander of an army could be. Evidently his Lady Knight had returned home. Thank goodness she thought to herself with a sigh of relief.

His anger now quelled, Dom was given a second chance a resolving the situation. Though seemingly helpless in the face of numerous obstacles, beasts that were wreaking havoc just outside the Abbey and hired assassins only a few, she would do her best. There was no time for civil war with the sound of Orcish war drums filling the land.
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-Dom