EB p.2 The Dark Times

[Morty]

Vera withdrew her hand and turned to Absalom, who rolled to his feet obligingly. "If you don't mind, Itzal, sir." he said, showing them over to a low pedestal, on which rested a flat, mirrorlike crystal. "As you can see, we're being watched." said Absalom, waving to the dark shapes in the crystal's surface.
"Do you recognize this object?" Vera asked, looking at Maela and Athvesa.

[Midnightmoon]

"I would seem that they found one of our crystals." Amber murmured. "They can't trace us, I hopefully assume?" "No Ma'am." "Good." A couple of the other personnel around her moved away from the crystal, not wanting to be seen.

[Kauria]

Athvesa circled the small crystal curiously and held a hand out so that his claw just barely brushed the smooth surface. "It's a scrying crystal," he answered, examining the images moving within it.

[Morty]

"Correct." said Vera, nodding thoughtfully.
"Of a light clan construction." added Absalom, tilting the smooth side of the crystal towards the ground as he said so.
Good thinking. commented Vera. Absalom beamed.
"This symbol," said Vera, removing a slightly bloody cloth armband from her pocket, depicting a black circle with a curved line through the middle. "Do you recognize it?"
"A few of our number have gone... missing, lately, you see.. A suspicious number. And we're not terribly numerous, you know; one notices these absences." said Absalom vaguely, swishing his tail. "We believe they are disguised as air clan members."
"Would it be too much to ask to have a portion of your troops keep and eye out for these defectors? They'd be travelling in a group of four at the most; four pairs, that is." Vera explained, regarding the Generals cautiously.
"One of their number is seriously injured, he'll be bleeding all over the place." Absalom added cheerfully.

[Kauria]

"Defectors?" Athvesa exchanged a glance with Maela. The demoness shook her head slightly, eyebrows raised. The ice dragon turned his attention back to the other pair and continued, "We'll be sure to tell someone to look out for them. Does this symbol have any particular significance?"

[Morty]

"Thank you, Generals." said Vera, bowing. "The symbol is merely a statement of their allegiance. It is a distortion of the symbol of our council." She explained, showing them her own armband, a simple white circle on a black background.
"We appreciate your compliance." said Absalom cordially.

[Midnightmoon]

"Hmm, ah well. We didn't get much from this crystal. Maybe the others would have more luck. Get someone working on keeping an eye on them." Amber instructed, getting up. "Find me if anything interesting pops up." "Sure thing." With a nod to the personnel in the room Amber left.

[Kauria]

"Unfortunately, I don't think we'll have the opportunity to look for them just yet. We're retreating," Athvesa said, casting his gaze down.
"The Dark Clan forces of Janahal came here prepared to crush the resistance, not chase them halfway across the continent," Maela added, shrugging her shoulders. "It's only a matter of time before we can track them down again."

[Morty]

"Well you see, that's just the thing..." said Vera at the mention of the resistance.
"We believe they were headed to seek refuge amongst the rebel forces. They might very well lead us to their front door." Absalom explained, his red mouth grinning eerily.
Vera nodded. "But," she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "They are your forces. It's your call."

((It looks like Vera's a bit of a control freak. :'D))

[Kauria]

Maela paused, her ears pricking at Vera's words. Athvesa curved his neck back around, looking interested.
"How long has it been since these light clan members went missing?" he asked eagerly, turning fully around.

[Morty]

Absalom and Vera looked at each other knowingly.
"Less than three weeks." replied Vera in answer to Athvesa's query.
"Though that is not the last time they were spotted." added Absalom, licking his lips.
"Fortunately they have been waylaid this long by patrols along the border. But the troops there are stretched thin quelling rebel uprisings.."
"Which is why we came to you for assistance." Absalom finished, watching the two generals.

[Kauria]

Maela leaned against Athvesa's foreleg, her arms crossed and tail swishing thoughtfully. "We can go after the missing members, but there's no way we'll be able to transport the entire army the additional distance to the rebels. We'll simply have to take note of the new location for the time being," she murmured, mostly to Athvesa. "Do you know what time of day it is?"
"About an hour after midday," he responded, one eyebrow raised.
Maela straightened again and approached the light clan pair. "We'll help."
Athvesa, tell Iztal to prepare the troops to return to Janahal. I need to speak to Major Ravana and his company, if they can be found quickly enough.
Got it.
When the army returns to base, the mages are to return the clouds to normal as if we were still with them.
Understood. He grinned.

[Morty]

"We are grateful, Generals. I presume our buisness here is done." said Absalom, bowing politely.
"If you have any further questions, ask them now. We have other things to attend to." said Vera, glancing out the window at the afternoon sun.
Absalom ruffled his wings, following Vera's gaze out the window.
Plenty of time! he said jovially, sensing a mild anxiety in Vera.
If they tell the rebels about our plans, they'll be losing much more than an arm next time.
Absalom sighed inwardly. What ever pleases you.

[Kauria]

"Four pairs at the most, likely disguised as Air Clan, one severely injured," Maela reviewed, counting off the points on her fingers.
"I think we're good," Athvesa said, bowing to the other pair.

[Morty]

"Very good! We will take our leave of you." Absalom said. Vera swung onto his back, nodding at the generals.
"We will not be hard to find, in any case." said Vera, but gave no further clues.
Absalom launched himself off the edge of the platform, winging away in a flash of feathers.
Well, said Vera once they were sailing over the forest. Our job just got ten times easier.