Outside the Queen’s throne room in Cathen, a disparate group of strangers tried to transform themselves into a tightly-knit unit, without much success.
*Look, you -- I don’t know why she made you leader, but you’ll have more trouble than you’ll want if you start bossing me around!” The shorter Vix glared up at Talon, his shoulders squared defiantly, but the effect was ruined by the strands of hair hanging into his eyes, as well as that ridiculous blue beret.
Talon suppressed both the smile he might otherwise have worn, and the urge to flatten the little twerp.
“It was probably just because I’m the oldest here. And don’t worry, I don’t plan to ‘boss’ anybody. But we do need to act as a team, and teams need leaders, or they degenerate into mobs. The queen chose me, so I’ll do the job, like it or not. Anyone who can’t live with that, can leave. Are you staying or going?” His eyes locked unwaveringly on Vix’s, and left no doubt in the younger man’s mind that he’d return any aggression measure for measure, and maybe more besides.
Vix stared back for a minute to demonstrate his toughness. “I’ll stay -- for now, anyway, and give you a chance; I’m a fair man, as all who know me will tell you. The queen has entrusted me with this mission, and I’ll see it through -- with or without you.”
The other travelers released the breaths they’d all been holding, and tried to look as if they hadn’t been hanging on every word.
Vata, by the doorway, started handing out the packs that General Ython had provided for them, together with various supplies. Her iron rod leaned against the wall behind her.
The dwarf, Scarl, glanced uneasily at the rod; he was comfortable with straightforward murder and mayhem, but magic still unnerved him. Still, he stepped forward to help with the division of provisions, taking bundles over to those team members who weren’t paying enough attention to come and get them themselves.
02-Feb-2007 02:54:53
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02-Feb-2007 02:56:12
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