While "Tace's" answer might be the "correct" one, something about it still feels off to Arren. A hunch, maybe, as everything the lesser-ranked soldier said seems to sit with what Arren knows, and yet Arren can't shake this feeling. This... inexplicable knowledge. Something which, on one hand, Arren is sure the Commandant would condemn, but on the other, he just can't ignore. The Corporal is being untruthful. Or, more accurately, he's hiding something, covering it with what Arren knows to be true, to distract him from the whole truth.
((Normally, I'd probably stop here. But given Arren's critical success, I'll add:)) Trying to put his finger on what bothers him, Arren might think back on his brief time knowing the Corporal. Perhaps, now that he feels it so strongly that he cannot fully trust this person, he recalls some of their experiences but from a more critical point of view. Strange remarks from the Corporal, discipline which he lacked, unsoldierly behaviour on certain occasions. The fact that, justified or not, Arren had never really seen his face, beyond slight peeks occasionally while the Corporal eats, maybe. Things which, so far, Arren had not lingered on, brushing them aside for one reason or another. But now, thinking back, he realises that, while each one alone might not be significant, together they amount to this... hunch. Something Arren felt in his subconscious, only now finally permeating to his conscious mind.
Although he cannot tell, from that alone, what the issue is, Arren is by now certain that something is wrong; something Arren can't abide by without feeling that he is somehow neglecting his duty. In other words, he realises he cannot trust this person around his superiors anymore, not if he leaves things the way they are now.
On any other occasion, the Corporal's reply would have convinced the Sergeant, made him drop his concern. But whether it is because his awareness is sharper after what transpired in the caves, or for some other reason he cannot quite name, something strikes him at that precise moment.
Like a lightning bolt splitting the darkest of nights, the Half-Elf suddenly realizes that his companion is lying.
Not a blatant lie, perhaps—not one that can be easily disproven. But he is not telling the truth. He is giving the perfect response: one that avoids falsehood while concealing what truly matters. And Arren knows that this, too, is a lie.
In that instant, he understands that he can no longer trust the man in front of him.
All those moments he had brushed aside before—those strange remarks, the lack of discipline, the unsoldierly behavior—suddenly rearrange themselves into something unmistakable. They were not coincidences. He simply does not know this man. And now, he has caught him hiding the truth.
What is going on here? Is he working with the bandits?That seemed far-fetched… and yet, he did speak lengthy with them when his superiors were not present.
Arren now faces a choice: ignore this and go on as if nothing happened, or confront him. Either way, he knows what follows will be unpleasant. But he also knows that one of those choices could have far worse consequences for those he's tasked to protect.
Clenching his jaw, he casts the Corporal a glance that is already brimming with anger. Very quietly, he says, "You are lying."
His green eyes lock onto what little he can see of the Corporal's. His hands do not move toward his weapons. Not yet.
"You are giving the perfect response to misdirect me. I now wonder how many times you’ve done that before." He pauses. "Either way, it hasn't worked this time."
Arren steps closer to Tace, his voice still low, but unmistakably cold.
"You have broken my trust, and that will have consecuences. Surrender your weapons. Now. The Commandant will decide what is to be done with you."
As soon as the Sergeant calls him out for lying with such conviction, 'Tace'knows the game is up and tenses, ready to act.
This charade was never going to last forever. If it wasn't for these damned bandits I would at least have made it to civilisation, though.
He listens as with surprising intuition, the Sergeant calls out exactly what he has been doing. But as the Sergeant steps closer, he also takes a step back, not allowing them to close the distance.
He has seen this aspect of the Sergeant's personality before, the cold authoritative demeanour when he thinks he has been disrespected. Back then, I submitted to keep up the charade. This is different, the charade won't work any more.
"You're right, I have not been entirely truthful", he admits, having to now think on his feet. "I am afraid that has been necessary. But there has been no malice in that, and I have done nothing to cause you, the lieutenant or the Commandant harm. I don't intend to change that, even though I will not give up my weapons", he adds, continuing to keep the Sergeant at a distance, manoeuvring to make sure he is closer to the exit of the well.
"I admit it, I made a deal with the bandits to save us all from soldier's pride. Save usall! We couldn't survive out here until we made it through the mountains. That was clear well before Nohem and Lann appeared at the hostelry. It was clear to me, anyway", he says, feeling relief at finally being able to speak some truth.
Just how much has he worked out?
"These bandits don't care about chain of command. Most of them can't stand Meyens or the Katton army. We are here only as long as we are useful, and they certainly aren't letting us out just to send in the army. I am not your enemy here. So is it really the time for a court marshal? Is it the time to weaken your hand by having me stripped of my weapons?".
"Oh, is that so? You made a deal? In exchange for what?"
Arren hasn't missed how the Elf in front of him has been maneuvering—subtly, but deliberately—perhaps searching for a way to escape if things turn ugly. He takes this into account, shifting his own position, ready to pursue if needed.
"What did they give in return? Or what have they kept quiet? Do you really expect me to believe that's all?"
He pauses, fixing him with a steady, unblinking stare.
"And who is that you you refer to, anyway? I'll admit, you played your part well, but not well enough to never break character. I kept telling myself the training in Tus must be lacking. Now I see it was something else entirely. Something bigger. How convenient, hiding behind that helmet all the time, isn't it?"
His voice lowers, colder.
"So tell me, who's really under it? A soldier lacking discipline? A man whose family so conveniently isn't waiting for him in Pyorre? A man who isn't shocked in the slightest when facing plant-men, as if he already knew about them? You're going to have to give me more than some half-spoken 'deal', because you're hiding far more than that."
By now, Arren's right hand is resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Am I weakening my position by disarming you," he asks quietly, "or am I preventing a dagger in our backs?"
“Well, I guess I am being honest, so I will tell you. Initially I tried to make a deal with the bandit we captured and left tied up. That was for me to not resist when they attacked on subsequent evenings, in exchange for my life. At the time I believed the bandits wanted to kill the Meyens, with us as collateral, and I didn't want to go down that way”, 'Tace' starts to explain.
Still he looks to make sure he doesn’t become hemmed in by the well, even inching down toward camp if possible.
“But I actually found I wasn’t capable of stabbing you in the back. Figuratively or physically”. He shrugs, “I was surprised too. But by then you and I particularly had been through quite a lot, and I was starting to see beyond the rigid soldier aspect you project. And so I was once again forced to kill to protect our little band. I suggested we should get out of the mountains, but rank beats sense it appears, and here we are”.
“Of course, then Nohem and Lann joined the bandit attack, and I knew the game of cat and mouse was up. So I made another deal whilst the rest of you slept in the hostelry. The deal was for them to cease hostility and allow me time to convince the Commandant to come peacefully. I only asked they didn’t give me away, but I was also interested in what they had found here, I will admit. It was Nohem who agreed, not Lann, by the way”, he continues with a sigh at Lann ultimately leading to him being exposed.
He meets the Sergeant’s gaze, and notices his tone become colder as they speak. All the while keeping that distance between them, ready to bolt if the Sergeant draws the sword his hand rested on the hilt of, or if he made a grab for him.
“You are right again though, there is more. For the record, I was plenty shocked when the plant-creature appeared and entangled me in their roots and tried to choke me to death. But you and I have seen strange things before, such as Emma. Her and I had an understanding of sorts. Once she knew she was talking to a person not a soldier, she grew to trust me. Now who knows what will happen to her”, he says sadly.
Have I pushed this far enough, or too far?
He shakes his head, and lets out a breath. “I tell you what. You go and tell the Commandant that you have uncovered that I have been dishonest, and that I am willing to speak to her, in the presence of Nohem. Because I am not inclined to speak to you more whilst you are so obviously suffering from hurt pride, which I think will end up causing you to become violent".
He looks the Sergeant in the eye, even though it is quite an effort to do so, "I won't fight you, but I won’t allow myself to be disarmed and shackled by you either. And I am certain the Commandant will not be happy if you happen to kill me, even by accident”.
He starts to back away toward the camp a little faster, but doesn't turn his back on the Sergeant.
Arrenlistens without interrupting. He doesn't advance, but doesn't yield ground either. His jaw tightens—not in anger alone, but in restraint.
"So that’s your defence," he says at last. "You negotiated with the enemy in secret, and chose not to betray us after first deciding you might. How very comforting."
A pause.
"You speak as if restraint absolves intent. As if the fact you didn't let them cut our throats erases the fact that you planned around the possibility. I'm sorry, but you don't get credit for stopping short of treason."
When the so-called Corporal mentions pride, the Sergeant's expression hardens.
"If you think this is wounded pride," Arren replies coldly, "then you're too accustomed to lying to recognise what broken trust looks like."
He shifts slightly—not drawing his weapon, but making it clear he could. Then, when 'Tace' suggests speaking to the Commandant, Arren considers for a couple of seconds before nodding once.
"Fine. It’s not as if I wish to continue this conversation either. Perhaps you’ll do the Commandant the honour of telling her what more there is." He nods toward the camp. "Lead the way."
Arren falls in behind, never once taking his eyes off him.
"Oh, I am not trying to defend my actions, I know I don't have a leg to stand on there. I am merely answering some of your questions", 'Tace' responds. "And as for broken trust, a rank has allowed you to order me around, and speak down to me as you see fit. Perhaps you did trust me, but perhaps you just trusted that you outranked me so I was obliged to be trustworthy. It is a shame really, because underneath that rank you seem to be a decent person who deserves better", he ponders.
When the Sergeant nods for him to lead the way, he narrows his eyes and shakes his head.
"That's not what I suggested. I am willing to speak to the Commandant, but I won't be marched back to her with you staring daggers at my back. Whatever happens today, my time as a soldier is over, so I am done taking orders", he says, unwilling to turn his back to the Sergeant.
"Why don't you deliver the message to the Commandant, and I will be waiting for her with Nohem and Lann in camp? I have nowhere else to go, so it's not like I can bolt even if I wanted to".
Based on Arren's Insight roll before, Arren makes a few more insights while they speak. (Don't edit your comments, though, just take these remarks into consideration.)
"You're right, I have not been entirely truthful. [...] I am afraid that has been necessary. But there has been no malice in that, and I have done nothing to cause you, the lieutenant or the Commandant harm. I don't intend to change that, even though I will not give up my weapons."
Arren believes 'Tace' is being honest, at least about this part.
"So tell me, who's really under it? A soldier lacking discipline? A man whose family so conveniently isn't waiting for him in Pyorre? A man who isn't shocked in the slightest when facing plant-men, as if he already knew about them?"
Perhaps I misunderstood Arren, but recall, that even Arren, by now, has heard of Kone and Carmelo. While I don't recall how much exactly 'Tace' shared, the original intent was that by joining the Commandant's crew, he would actually see them more often than he used to at Tus.
“Well, I guess I am being honest, so I will tell you. Initially I tried to make a deal with the bandit we captured and left tied up. That was for me to not resist when they attacked on subsequent evenings, in exchange for my life. At the time I believed the bandits wanted to kill the Meyens, with us as collateral, and I didn't want to go down that way.”
“But I actually found I wasn’t capable of stabbing you in the back. [...] And so I was once again forced to kill to protect our little band. I suggested we should get out of the mountains, but rank beats sense it appears, and here we are.”
“Of course, then Nohem and Lann joined the bandit attack, and I knew the game of cat and mouse was up. So I made another deal whilst the rest of you slept in the hostelry. The deal was for them to cease hostility and allow me time to convince the Commandant to come peacefully. I only asked they didn’t give me away, but I was also interested in what they had found here, I will admit. It was Nohem who agreed, not Lann, by the way.”
“You are right again though, there is more. For the record, I was plenty shocked when the plant-creature appeared and entangled me in their roots and tried to choke me to death. But you and I have seen strange things before, such as Emma. Her and I had an understanding of sorts. Once she knew she was talking to a person not a soldier, she grew to trust me. Now who knows what will happen to her.”
"...And I am certain the Commandant will not be happy if you happen to kill me, even by accident”.
Again, Bryn seems truthful while saying this (first and third paragraphs).
Second paragraph, bolded part. Arren notices something about how Bryn says that part. The word "kill" in particular. Something... softer, more vulnerable? He's used to this by now, having experienced it himself and from serving alongside many others. This person who stands in front of him... they're no killers. From how Bryn phrased his sentence, Arren can't exactly tell that Bryn's first kill was just a few nights ago, but if not, then the body count is probably still very low. Unlike Arren, by the way, even though that was only while performing his duties over the years.
I believe Bryn was surprised when the second plant-creature appeared, especially due to how it appeared. While perhaps less surprised than Arren, different people react differently to things, so while Arren may have expected Bryn to be more surprised, the fact that he didn't can not tell Arren much (in particular, there's no logical basis to assume Bryn knew about them before, the way I see it).
When Bryn mentions Emma, by the way, while 'Tace' seems truthful, Arren does not recall seeing anything like that. He'll realise that whatever 'Tace' means, happened only while Arren was away.
Last part: Arren believes 'Tace' is right. She won't be happy about it either way. Killing another soldier would only be permitted if Arren is certain that a direct threat to her life is made. Even if she gives the order herself. And even then, it would certainly lead to a court-martial back in Pyorre.
"If you think this is wounded pride," Arren replies coldly, "then you're too accustomed to lying to recognise what broken trust looks like."
Based on your OOC comments, I believe you noticed already, but I'll still mention that Arren is very much on point here. I'd imagine this would touch Bryn in some way, at least a little.
"And as for broken trust, a rank has allowed you to order me around, and speak down to me as you see fit. Perhaps you did trust me, but perhaps you just trusted that you outranked me so I was obliged to be trustworthy. It is a shame really, because underneath that rank you seem to be a decent person who deserves better."
"That's not what I suggested. I am willing to speak to the Commandant, but I won't be marched back to her with you staring daggers at my back. Whatever happens today, my time as a soldier is over, so I am done taking orders."
"Why don't you deliver the message to the Commandant, and I will be waiting for her with Nohem and Lann in camp? I have nowhere else to go, so it's not like I can bolt even if I wanted to".
It's true, 'Tace' has nowhere to run to, aside from perhaps joining the bandits, which is a questionable move considering they believe (as Arren might) that he was a soldier. By the way, with how things were phrased here, I don't see anything that directly leads to the conclusion that 'Tace' was not a soldier before, only that he wishes to retire from this profession (well written, Volcano).
All in all, I think you already knew most of what I had to say, but I still wanted to point those things out in case they somehow went unnoticed in this rather tense scene. Not all of them should be addressed immediately, perhaps, but these matters will surely shape how each character sees the other going forward (since, at the end of the day, we all know that one way or the other, Bryn and Arren's joint journey isn't over yet).
Currently, I imagine Arren and Bryn standing on opposite sides of the well, about equal distance from the crack that leads out of here and towards camp. Each knows that any movement beyond this point, that is not agreed upon, will probably cause the other to react. Bryn knows Arren's blade is fast enough that he might be hit before he can run out of reach, and Arren knows that Bryn is fast enough that he might slip away towards camp. Both, however, also know that the floor they stand on is slippery, which might betray their footing if they rush too much. Inside the crack, neither can move too freely, but it would mostly be in Bryn's favour, at least while Arren sticks to his sword.
Arrenunderstands Tace's intentions perfectly. He simply wants none of it.
For a moment, he considers the ramifications standing before him. If he leaves him alone while he goes to speak to the Commandant, will he try to escape? Will he strike another bargain with the bandits behind their backs? And if Arren tries to stop him now, it would mean using force. He does not doubt he could do it if necessary ... but, deep down, he does not want it to come to that.
Throughout this brief consideration, his hand rests on the hilt of his sword, his gaze fixed on the man in front of him like a drawn blade. At last, he forces a measure of calm into his voice.
"Order you around? Speak down to you?" he says. "Funny, because I think you've always been free to voice your thoughts about every action we've taken. You were listened to. I supported you when I believed you were right. Yes, there were times your suggestions were dismissed. But welcome to real life. Soldier or not, you don't always get what you want."
He pauses, then lets his hand fall from the longsword to his side.
"Have it your way,"Arren says quietly. "Go. I doubt you can do more damage than you already have."
He watches him leave. As he stands there alone, Arren raises a hand to his neck —still sore from the choking grip of the plant-creature—and realises with sharp clarity that this is not what wounded him most today.
Then, with a numbness born of a confrontation he never expected to face, he turns toward camp to find Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur, already weighing what he will say and what consequences will follow.
'Tace' breathes a sigh of relief as the Sergeant removes his hand from the hilt of his sword, removing the prospect of violence and diminishing his own fight or flight reflex. With his mind free from thoughts of self preservation for the moment, he truly takes in what the Sergeant had been saying.
He is right, he didn't deserve this kind of betrayal. He is also right that real life doesn't always give you what you deserve, let alone what you want
Before he leaves, in a more subdued tone, he replies to the Sergeant. "Believe me I know what real life can do. It has tripped me up and kicked me when I have been down plenty of times. It's true you have listened to me, taken my side when you didn't have to. But I was never an equal, rank saw to that. Maybe that is the life a career soldier like you accepts and embraces, but not me. I just happened to fall into this life", he says and chuckles, although there is no real humour behind it.
"Anyway, for what it is worth, and whatever happens. I am sorry", he says and then jogs off towards the camp to find Nohem and Lann. Not that he has any reason to believe me, or accept it even if he does believe it.
Before Bryn even leaves the crack, he can already see someone standing outside. At first, he can only see that there's light outside, shining into the crack and illuminating the walls. A few more steps, around a turn, and now Bryn can see two figures. One, about his height, holding a lantern. The other, a little shorter, not too far from the first. The Commandant and the Lieutenant stand about a metre from the crack's entrance, waiting. Another step, and now, in the light, the Commandant recognises who she believes is one of her soldiers.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" She calls before Bryn can even leave the confined space between the walls. Arren, a little deeper into the cave, can dimly hear her voice, but cannot yet see her. "Have I not asked you to return before sundown?" By now, unless he stopped, Bryn stepped out of the crack and would not be standing in front of the two. The Commandant looks stern, and she might even have looked calm if she weren't shivering from the cold, which the military coat does not seem to protect against. But ignoring looks, she sounds infuriated, a tone which Arren, deeper inside, recognises even without understanding every word.
Lieutenant Tireur, meanwhile, stands as still as a statue. He doesn't seem to be as cold, but more importantly, he looks as if he believes any movement he makes could shift the Commandant's anger towards him. Beyond that, he seems expressionless.
If Bryn stops to listen, the Commandant continues, and by then, Arren can pick up most of what the Commandant practically shouts. "And on top of that, I am to hear the only report from a wounded bandit, describing how you fought some 'magical vine monster' that nearly choked him to death. And you still didn't think to come back? Do you think your wife," she pauses, now noticing Arren stepping into view, "your mother, do you think they'll accept that as an explanation if I had to knock on their door and tell them their husband, their son, will not be coming home ever again?"
Even though he has a little more time—his delayed arrival buying him a few extra moments—Arrenis wholly unprepared to find their superiors already waiting. He had hoped for time to gather his thoughts, to decide what to say, and above all, not to do so in the Corporal's presence.
As it is, he remains silent for a moment, letting the Commandant's words hang in the cold air, before he finally finds his voice and answers.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." he begins. "We wanted to make the most of our time in the caves. To investigate, and..." He falters, the words slipping away from him, then exhales and admits plainly, "...we lost track of time. But we are fine. Mostly. Just a bit battered."
He falls silent again. For a moment, his gaze almost drifts toward Tace, as if searching for how to continue—but he stops himself before their eyes can meet, the thought of it too uncomfortable. Instead, he looks back to the Commandant.
"Could we speak somewhere more privately?"he asks. "There's… an issue we need to address. Before we discuss what we found in there."
Arren knows the Corporal would rather be with Nohem and the others before anything is revealed. Whether he voices that preference, however, is up to him.
'Tace'does move out of the crack between the walls and stops, almost like a deer who has spotted the hunter about to loose his arrow. His fight or flight reflex failing him as he simply stands rooted to the spot.
And then the Commandant begins her tirade in earnest, which the Sergeant obediently takes, and the spell is broken. The Sergeant apologising even though he had acted so bravely under such difficult circumstances.
"Thank you Ma'am", he says to her, his voice slightly shaky from nerves and adrenaline. "The Sergeant and I were just having a discussion and you have demonstrated one of my points perfectly. We are of course deeply remorseful that you had to hear the news that soldiers under your command had valiantly fought off a magical vine creature from a wounded bandit. It must have been awful for you to have to contemplate narrowly missing out on having to write such awkward letters. And obviously that is no excuse for missing our curfew", he says more than teetering on the edge of open sarcasm, knowing he is likely doomed now anyway with his three superiors here.
"The Sergeant deserves recognition for his actions, not rebuke. You will find me back in camp, the Sergeant can explain why", he says and walks quickly away, his heart pounding almost out his chest.
He fully expects to hear the Lieutenant cocking his firearm, knowing he cannot outrun his keen night vision. Or the Commandant ordering the Sergeant to chase him down.
I only hope they are too shocked to act decisively, and will first turn to the Sergeant for an explanation.
No firearm is loaded and no order to chase is given. At first, both superior officers stare at "Tace's" back in shock. A second later, the Commandant comes back to her senses, and while Bryn is not yet too far to order her subordinates as he fears, she instead just turns to Arren. "You better think of a good explanation by the time we reach your tent."
The Commandant then turns on her heel and starts marching towards camp in silence. She doesn't walk as fast as Bryn, but she seems to hurry too, mostly due to the cold. A confused question on his face, Lieutenant Tireur waits for Arren to follow her. He'll walk next to Arren, and although he's surely full of questions, he keeps silent, sure that he'll hear everything in due time.
The first to reach camp is Bryn. By now, nearly all have finished their supper, but few still sit by the fire. It might be notable that now, only one bonefire is lit, and so all that are still outside are gathered around it. It's a bigger fire, though, to occupy the increased number of people. Fortunately, it doesn't rain, though a distant thunder can be heard. Neither Lann nor Nohem are by the fire, but if Bryn asks anyone, he'll be directed to one of the tents, where both now supposedly talk.
When the Commandant reaches the camp, she walks straight towards the carriage and the crew's tents. She stands by the larger tent, but waits for Arren to enter first, and if he does, waits for him to speak first.
Arrenlooks at Tace with the same shock as his superiors, but by the time he thinks to say anything, the Corporal is already walking away. He doesn't miss how Tace defended him—despite their clash moments earlier—but he is too overwhelmed by the Commandant's reaction, and by the conversation they will soon be having, to dwell on it just yet.
With a heavy weight settling on his shoulders, he briefly meets the Lieutenant's eyes, then follows Commandant Nattensbarn toward the tent he still shares with the Corporal ... for however long that may remain the case.
He enters the tent without delay. Though he knows the Commandant is waiting for him to speak, he allows himself a brief moment to gather his thoughts. Finally, he looks at her and begins.
"First of all, ma'am… I’m sorry for the Corporal's words. I'm as shocked as you are. Though, after what has happened, I suppose I shouldn't be."
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. The Commandant can plainly see his discomfort—confusion, uncertainty, even doubt—traits uncharacteristic of the Sergeant. He clears his throat and continues.
"Before we entered the caves, we had a tense exchange with Lann—Nohem's second-in-command. It stemmed partly from my insistence that we be allowed inside to investigate, but also from unrest among the workers. They were demanding payment for their labour, and I attempted to negotiate with the bandits on that front. That situation may yet resolve itself; we found a significant amount of gold within a sarcophagus inside the caves. And after the incident with the plant creatures, Lann appeared more amenable. It's possible the workers will be paid after all."
He pauses, collecting his thoughts.
"The issue, ma'am, is that at one point Lann threatened the Corporal—something about sheathing his tongue. It was clear to me the remark was directed specifically at him. After we left the caves, I questioned the Corporal about it. And he… evaded the truth. Not an outright lie, perhaps, but a deliberate misdirection."
Arren exhales slowly, rubbing his temples.
"That was when it clicked. I realised he had done this before—redirecting, obscuring—alongside other behaviours that suggested a lack of discipline wholly out of character for a soldier. I pressed him further. He eventually admitted to having negotiated with the bandits in secret, first after our initial encounter with them and again at the hostelry. He claims it began as an attempt to preserve his own life, and later shifted into an effort to protect the group."
Arren sighs, clearly unsettled by having to recount this at all.
"I believe there is more he hasn't told me. He admitted as much himself. But tensions were high, and he refused to continue speaking with me. He insisted he would only speak further to you, ma'am, and only in the presence of Nohem and Lann. I suspect he feels safer surrounded by them and not only by us."
He straightens slightly, his tone firming.
"He has also stated plainly that he no longer wishes to be a soldier. That he is finished with taking orders, that rank has overridden sense. Either way, after all this, I can no longer trust him. I don’t know what else he's hiding ... but I'm certain it won't be anything good."
When 'Tace' reaches the camp, he is breathing heavily. Not from the exertion of the walk, but because of the stress of the situation, of not knowing what would befall him on that walk. Even now, entering the camp and vicinity of the campfire does not mean any sort of safety for him.
How did I get myself into this? I should have bailed the first chance I got and took my chances. Why the need to get to Pyorre? Why such an interest in Breathe Staidear?
He looks around and doesn't see Nohem and Lann, and so once he has calmed himself he will indeed ask someone as to their whereabouts.
Heading over the to the tent, he tries to think about what he will say. He has conned many people in his time, but this was another level. Possibly worse than being caught at the magic academy, which led to all this in the first place.
Is there a lie that can get me out of this, or do I just have to put myself at the mercy of these bandits?
Unless there is someone guarding the tent, he will listen for a moment outside, trying to make sure he can hear Nohem and Lann, and that he isn't surprised by any others being present. He then clears his throat and enters.
Bryn finds the tent unguarded. It is a relatively simple tent, a little weathered even, and for a moment, Bryn might question if this is the right tent at all, given his perception that Nohem and Lann are somehow 'senior' to the other bandits. But listening for a moment, he definitely recognises Nohem's voice. "...wonder if that's the soldiers, or those... vegetables, as you called them. I suppose, if he had to use that, things must be more serious than I thought." It sounds serious in tone.
If Bryn keeps listening, the tent goes quiet for a bit longer before Nohem suddenly starts speaking again. "But, as I was saying, she leapt off her donkey, looked at us for a moment, and drew a slender blade. I'd call it a rapier, but it was closer to a dagger in length. Anyway..." The longer Bryn listens, the more he hears of how Nohem was defeated by this warrior, but the story sounds mostly exaggerated. If there's any truth to it, though, that must have been one skilled fighter.
Once Bryn excuses himself in, unless he turns back instead, he interrupts whoever was talking at that moment. Both bandits look at him, confused. Bryn notices Nohem is lying down, his right shoulder wrapped in bandages fashioned from a torn sack. Lann sits next to him, and doesn't look any different than Bryn last saw him. "Ah, you must be wondering how I reached this state. Well, I was just telling Lanny here all about it. It's a bit cramped, but you may join if you wish," Nohem offers (regardless of when exactly Bryn interrupted him). "I assume that's why you're here, right?"
Meanwhile, at another part of the camp, Lieutenant Tireur sits by the carriage, using it to block off the wind, keeping an eye on the tent where Arren and the Commandant sit, but far enough that he probably can't hear anything, especially with the strong wind that's blowing. He trusts Arren enough that he needn't eavesdrop, and Arren trusts him enough not to do so. Even if, at the moment, Arren's trust in certain others has taken a hit.
Insidethe tent, Commandant Nattensbarn listens to Arren's summary of recent events, occasionally breathing into her hands or rubbing them together to heat them a little, but otherwise attentive. If Arren remains standing despite the tent's shorter height, so will she. If he sits, she'll sit somewhere that's not on anyone's things. In any case, when Arren finishes, she remains silent for a bit. Her expression is unclear, but her mind is clearly busy thinking about everything. After a moment, she sighs, stands up if the two were sitting, and turns around. "I'll see the Corporal in a bit, then. Until then, don't wander too far. Maybe eat if you're hungry. The Lieutenant will surely be glad to join you. But give me a moment to think. Alone." While, until now, Arren might have thought she looked somewhat calm - for someone who usually doesn't fear showing her wrath - hearing how emotionally charged her words are, he realises she's far from that. But it doesn't sound like anger alone that fills her now. If anything, she seems... wounded?
The Commandant leaves the tent, and after a moment, Arren hears her lashing out in Meyen, though merely a few words, likely aimed at the Lieutenant. If he leaves the tent, he'll see the Commandant walking away, out of camp, while the Lieutenant now stands where he was sitting, looking utterly confused. When he sees Arren, he can no longer contain his concern. "What happened?"
It doesn't take 'Tace' long to enter the tent once he is reasonably certain that it is just Nohem and Lann in there.
What is the that that they are talking about?
When the looks he is greeted with are ones of confusion, he becomes a little concerned. The conversation with the Sergeant hadn't lasted that long, unless it had taken some time for the message to get to them that Nohem and Lann wanted to speak to he and the Sergeant. Why are they confused to see me?
"Well, of course I am eager to ensure you are well, and find out what happened. But I am confused by your apparent confusion at my presence here. The Sergeant and I were told you wanted to see us. By the Lady High Elf with the Levickan accent and the man with the messy short brown hair. They turned up at the excavation site a short whole ago. Is that not the case?", he asks, eager to talk about his situation but wondering why they had been subtly ejected from the cave.
Arrenstands as well and nods at the Commandant's reply. "We'll be by the fire, ma'am."
He's a little surprised by the emotion in her words, and for a moment he considers asking if she's all right, but the question dies on his lips. He doubts he would know how to answer it himself at the moment.
He steps outside after her, giving her space to separate herself from them, though he can't help watching her for a moment, trying to discern the path she takes. He also finds himself wondering whether she'll summon him and the Lieutenant when she speaks to the Corporal.
In any case, he doesn't linger long in the biting cold, and approaches the Lieutenant to whom he says quietly, "We're in a fine mess," before asking him to join him by the fire, where they can speak more comfortably. "Did she lash at you? I didn't understand what she said."
Once there, Arren finds a spot where they can talk in low voices, away from the rest of people, and relays the same information he gave the Commandant.
"I don't even know what to think anymore," he admits at last. "I'm angry, that's certain. But also… hurt. I thought we were doing well. I'd noticed moments when the Corporal didn't behave like any soldier I'd worked with before, but I suppose I chose to ignore them."
He pauses. "What does that say about me, being his closest superior, the one he spent the most time with?" He shakes his head, the weight of it all settling heavily on his shoulders.
During the conversation, Arren takes one of his rations and forces himself to take a few bites, but eventually stows it away again, his appetite gone.
"Ah, of course!" Nohem exclaims. "We were just expecting to see you with the Sergeant, and were surprised you were alone. Of course, I wouldn't call you all the way here just to tell you some war stories. We wanted to talk to you about..." He tries to look behind Bryn, raising his body slightly, then grunting in pain and lying back down. "Is your friend not coming then?"
"So be it," Lann interjects. "I wanted to, ah, talk about the matter we discussed previously. You know... with the payment to the workers. I know I told you to come when you're ready, but seeing Nohem needs to rest, I preferred not to keep him waiting too long."
While Nohem, at first, almost convinces Bryn with his somewhat shady excuse, it is apparent that he isn't sure how to continue. It could have been fortunate that Lann filled in when he saw Nohem struggling, but unfortunately for them, Lann is not as good a liar as Nohem, and definitely nowhere near Bryn's level. It is soon clear to Bryn that the two never expected his early arrival, or at the very least, that they didn't call him themselves. And yet, rather than deny it, they chose to conform to the story Bryn told them
The path the Commandant chose seems to be the shortest path out of camp, walking straight and with some determination. As far as Arren knows, there's nothing special in that direction. He'll also note that she didn't bother taking a light with her, despite it being very dark, with the clouds blocking what little light the moon could offer.
"Uh, yeah. But no, not really." Lieutenant Tireur answers while the two walk towards the fire. "She... umm... she asked me not to follow her, and then blurted a few words I'd rather not translate, but umm... she essentially complained about the behaviour of all... how should I translate it? 'Long-livers', let's say. Non-Humans. Not an exact translation, mind you, but I think that's what she meant."
The large fire in the camp is still surrounded by a few workers and bandits, which do not bother the two soldiers as they talk. "Ah, that'll do it." The Lieutenant finally decides once Arren is done retelling the confrontation by the well. "I expected nothing good following the Corporal's statements earlier, but if you told her what you told me, using the same words, I can see how that provoked such a reaction from her." If Arren seems confused with the Lieutenant's decisiveness, he'll add: "You know, 'rank has overridden sense'? Knowingly or not, the Corporal chose a phrase that struck a nerve. She would have said 'incompetent fool', but the meaning is similar. I don't think she'd react like that for a mere insult, so maybe some of what he said resonated with her."
After listening to Arren's concerns, the Lieutenant sighs and answers empathically. "I don't know either. Maybe the Corporal just realised he wasn't built for this kind of life. He just left the safe - and relatively comfortable - prison walls. I'm sure they didn't tell him he'll be fighting people like Emma or experiencing situations like this one. Well, none of us knew, but at least we are slightly more used to violent encounters. He did once tell me that his role in prison wasn't exactly peaceful either, but I'm sure it was different.
"Of course, none of that is enough to excuse betraying your comrades. And you couldn't have known more than he let you. I spoke with the Commandant more than anyone in recent years, and I still don't understand her. It doesn't matter if your rank is higher than his, or if mine is lower than hers. You couldn't know of the doubts eating at his heart, and I still can't tell what a young woman like her does wasting her best years sitting in front of a desk, surrounded by two people she barely speaks with. Of course, it could also be something else entirely. These are only guesses based on what we now know, in retrospect. And similarly, perhaps the Commandant has no plan at all, and simply enjoys this strange solitude and drowning herself in work." He pauses. "Beneath this," he raises his hand to point at Arren's insignia, "you're just a person. And being the least experienced at leading among us, nobody expects you to know what your subordinates think after knowing them for less than a moon's cycle."
He pauses, listening to anything Arren has to say, or just keeping silent if Arren prefers so. After about a minute, he'll suddenly raise his eyes and interrupt Arren if he is talking. "Oh, there she is. Don't tell her anything I said." He stands, and Arren follows the Lieutenant's gaze and sees the Commandant approaching.
As she draws nearer, the fire illuminates her, a rigid expression now plastered on her face like a mask, hiding any emotion she showed before. But her lips are purple from the cold, and she stops near her subordinates, reaching over the fire momentarily to warm her freezing hands. "Tace Peite wanted to meet me in the presence of the bandits, as you said." She sounds informative, emotionless. "Lieutenant, come with me. Keep your wits about you and don't make things escalate unnecessarily, but make sure your weapon is loaded, in case any of them draw their weapons. Sergeant, if you can adhere to that, you may tag along. Otherwise, keep warming by the fire, or help the physician if you want to keep yourself busy. But be ready, just in case."
While "Tace's" answer might be the "correct" one, something about it still feels off to Arren. A hunch, maybe, as everything the lesser-ranked soldier said seems to sit with what Arren knows, and yet Arren can't shake this feeling. This... inexplicable knowledge. Something which, on one hand, Arren is sure the Commandant would condemn, but on the other, he just can't ignore. The Corporal is being untruthful. Or, more accurately, he's hiding something, covering it with what Arren knows to be true, to distract him from the whole truth.
((Normally, I'd probably stop here. But given Arren's critical success, I'll add:)) Trying to put his finger on what bothers him, Arren might think back on his brief time knowing the Corporal. Perhaps, now that he feels it so strongly that he cannot fully trust this person, he recalls some of their experiences but from a more critical point of view. Strange remarks from the Corporal, discipline which he lacked, unsoldierly behaviour on certain occasions. The fact that, justified or not, Arren had never really seen his face, beyond slight peeks occasionally while the Corporal eats, maybe. Things which, so far, Arren had not lingered on, brushing them aside for one reason or another. But now, thinking back, he realises that, while each one alone might not be significant, together they amount to this... hunch. Something Arren felt in his subconscious, only now finally permeating to his conscious mind.
Although he cannot tell, from that alone, what the issue is, Arren is by now certain that something is wrong; something Arren can't abide by without feeling that he is somehow neglecting his duty. In other words, he realises he cannot trust this person around his superiors anymore, not if he leaves things the way they are now.
Varielky | Werhann
On any other occasion, the Corporal's reply would have convinced the Sergeant, made him drop his concern. But whether it is because his awareness is sharper after what transpired in the caves, or for some other reason he cannot quite name, something strikes him at that precise moment.
Like a lightning bolt splitting the darkest of nights, the Half-Elf suddenly realizes that his companion is lying.
Not a blatant lie, perhaps—not one that can be easily disproven. But he is not telling the truth. He is giving the perfect response: one that avoids falsehood while concealing what truly matters. And Arren knows that this, too, is a lie.
In that instant, he understands that he can no longer trust the man in front of him.
All those moments he had brushed aside before—those strange remarks, the lack of discipline, the unsoldierly behavior—suddenly rearrange themselves into something unmistakable. They were not coincidences. He simply does not know this man. And now, he has caught him hiding the truth.
What is going on here? Is he working with the bandits? That seemed far-fetched… and yet, he did speak lengthy with them when his superiors were not present.
Arren now faces a choice: ignore this and go on as if nothing happened, or confront him. Either way, he knows what follows will be unpleasant. But he also knows that one of those choices could have far worse consequences for those he's tasked to protect.
Clenching his jaw, he casts the Corporal a glance that is already brimming with anger. Very quietly, he says, "You are lying."
His green eyes lock onto what little he can see of the Corporal's. His hands do not move toward his weapons. Not yet.
"You are giving the perfect response to misdirect me. I now wonder how many times you’ve done that before." He pauses. "Either way, it hasn't worked this time."
Arren steps closer to Tace, his voice still low, but unmistakably cold.
"You have broken my trust, and that will have consecuences. Surrender your weapons. Now. The Commandant will decide what is to be done with you."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
As soon as the Sergeant calls him out for lying with such conviction, 'Tace' knows the game is up and tenses, ready to act.
This charade was never going to last forever. If it wasn't for these damned bandits I would at least have made it to civilisation, though.
He listens as with surprising intuition, the Sergeant calls out exactly what he has been doing. But as the Sergeant steps closer, he also takes a step back, not allowing them to close the distance.
He has seen this aspect of the Sergeant's personality before, the cold authoritative demeanour when he thinks he has been disrespected. Back then, I submitted to keep up the charade. This is different, the charade won't work any more.
"You're right, I have not been entirely truthful", he admits, having to now think on his feet. "I am afraid that has been necessary. But there has been no malice in that, and I have done nothing to cause you, the lieutenant or the Commandant harm. I don't intend to change that, even though I will not give up my weapons", he adds, continuing to keep the Sergeant at a distance, manoeuvring to make sure he is closer to the exit of the well.
"I admit it, I made a deal with the bandits to save us all from soldier's pride. Save us all! We couldn't survive out here until we made it through the mountains. That was clear well before Nohem and Lann appeared at the hostelry. It was clear to me, anyway", he says, feeling relief at finally being able to speak some truth.
Just how much has he worked out?
"These bandits don't care about chain of command. Most of them can't stand Meyens or the Katton army. We are here only as long as we are useful, and they certainly aren't letting us out just to send in the army. I am not your enemy here. So is it really the time for a court marshal? Is it the time to weaken your hand by having me stripped of my weapons?".
"Oh, is that so? You made a deal? In exchange for what?"
Arren hasn't missed how the Elf in front of him has been maneuvering—subtly, but deliberately—perhaps searching for a way to escape if things turn ugly. He takes this into account, shifting his own position, ready to pursue if needed.
"What did they give in return? Or what have they kept quiet? Do you really expect me to believe that's all?"
He pauses, fixing him with a steady, unblinking stare.
"And who is that you you refer to, anyway? I'll admit, you played your part well, but not well enough to never break character. I kept telling myself the training in Tus must be lacking. Now I see it was something else entirely. Something bigger. How convenient, hiding behind that helmet all the time, isn't it?"
His voice lowers, colder.
"So tell me, who's really under it? A soldier lacking discipline? A man whose family so conveniently isn't waiting for him in Pyorre? A man who isn't shocked in the slightest when facing plant-men, as if he already knew about them? You're going to have to give me more than some half-spoken 'deal', because you're hiding far more than that."
By now, Arren's right hand is resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Am I weakening my position by disarming you," he asks quietly, "or am I preventing a dagger in our backs?"
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
“Well, I guess I am being honest, so I will tell you. Initially I tried to make a deal with the bandit we captured and left tied up. That was for me to not resist when they attacked on subsequent evenings, in exchange for my life. At the time I believed the bandits wanted to kill the Meyens, with us as collateral, and I didn't want to go down that way”, 'Tace' starts to explain.
Still he looks to make sure he doesn’t become hemmed in by the well, even inching down toward camp if possible.
“But I actually found I wasn’t capable of stabbing you in the back. Figuratively or physically”. He shrugs, “I was surprised too. But by then you and I particularly had been through quite a lot, and I was starting to see beyond the rigid soldier aspect you project. And so I was once again forced to kill to protect our little band. I suggested we should get out of the mountains, but rank beats sense it appears, and here we are”.
“Of course, then Nohem and Lann joined the bandit attack, and I knew the game of cat and mouse was up. So I made another deal whilst the rest of you slept in the hostelry. The deal was for them to cease hostility and allow me time to convince the Commandant to come peacefully. I only asked they didn’t give me away, but I was also interested in what they had found here, I will admit. It was Nohem who agreed, not Lann, by the way”, he continues with a sigh at Lann ultimately leading to him being exposed.
He meets the Sergeant’s gaze, and notices his tone become colder as they speak. All the while keeping that distance between them, ready to bolt if the Sergeant draws the sword his hand rested on the hilt of, or if he made a grab for him.
“You are right again though, there is more. For the record, I was plenty shocked when the plant-creature appeared and entangled me in their roots and tried to choke me to death. But you and I have seen strange things before, such as Emma. Her and I had an understanding of sorts. Once she knew she was talking to a person not a soldier, she grew to trust me. Now who knows what will happen to her”, he says sadly.
Have I pushed this far enough, or too far?
He shakes his head, and lets out a breath. “I tell you what. You go and tell the Commandant that you have uncovered that I have been dishonest, and that I am willing to speak to her, in the presence of Nohem. Because I am not inclined to speak to you more whilst you are so obviously suffering from hurt pride, which I think will end up causing you to become violent".
He looks the Sergeant in the eye, even though it is quite an effort to do so, "I won't fight you, but I won’t allow myself to be disarmed and shackled by you either. And I am certain the Commandant will not be happy if you happen to kill me, even by accident”.
He starts to back away toward the camp a little faster, but doesn't turn his back on the Sergeant.
Arren listens without interrupting. He doesn't advance, but doesn't yield ground either. His jaw tightens—not in anger alone, but in restraint.
"So that’s your defence," he says at last. "You negotiated with the enemy in secret, and chose not to betray us after first deciding you might. How very comforting."
A pause.
"You speak as if restraint absolves intent. As if the fact you didn't let them cut our throats erases the fact that you planned around the possibility. I'm sorry, but you don't get credit for stopping short of treason."
When the so-called Corporal mentions pride, the Sergeant's expression hardens.
"If you think this is wounded pride," Arren replies coldly, "then you're too accustomed to lying to recognise what broken trust looks like."
He shifts slightly—not drawing his weapon, but making it clear he could. Then, when 'Tace' suggests speaking to the Commandant, Arren considers for a couple of seconds before nodding once.
"Fine. It’s not as if I wish to continue this conversation either. Perhaps you’ll do the Commandant the honour of telling her what more there is."
He nods toward the camp. "Lead the way."
Arren falls in behind, never once taking his eyes off him.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
"Oh, I am not trying to defend my actions, I know I don't have a leg to stand on there. I am merely answering some of your questions", 'Tace' responds. "And as for broken trust, a rank has allowed you to order me around, and speak down to me as you see fit. Perhaps you did trust me, but perhaps you just trusted that you outranked me so I was obliged to be trustworthy. It is a shame really, because underneath that rank you seem to be a decent person who deserves better", he ponders.
When the Sergeant nods for him to lead the way, he narrows his eyes and shakes his head.
"That's not what I suggested. I am willing to speak to the Commandant, but I won't be marched back to her with you staring daggers at my back. Whatever happens today, my time as a soldier is over, so I am done taking orders", he says, unwilling to turn his back to the Sergeant.
"Why don't you deliver the message to the Commandant, and I will be waiting for her with Nohem and Lann in camp? I have nowhere else to go, so it's not like I can bolt even if I wanted to".
Based on Arren's Insight roll before, Arren makes a few more insights while they speak. (Don't edit your comments, though, just take these remarks into consideration.)
Arren believes 'Tace' is being honest, at least about this part.
Perhaps I misunderstood Arren, but recall, that even Arren, by now, has heard of Kone and Carmelo. While I don't recall how much exactly 'Tace' shared, the original intent was that by joining the Commandant's crew, he would actually see them more often than he used to at Tus.
Again, Bryn seems truthful while saying this (first and third paragraphs).
Second paragraph, bolded part. Arren notices something about how Bryn says that part. The word "kill" in particular. Something... softer, more vulnerable? He's used to this by now, having experienced it himself and from serving alongside many others. This person who stands in front of him... they're no killers. From how Bryn phrased his sentence, Arren can't exactly tell that Bryn's first kill was just a few nights ago, but if not, then the body count is probably still very low. Unlike Arren, by the way, even though that was only while performing his duties over the years.
I believe Bryn was surprised when the second plant-creature appeared, especially due to how it appeared. While perhaps less surprised than Arren, different people react differently to things, so while Arren may have expected Bryn to be more surprised, the fact that he didn't can not tell Arren much (in particular, there's no logical basis to assume Bryn knew about them before, the way I see it).
When Bryn mentions Emma, by the way, while 'Tace' seems truthful, Arren does not recall seeing anything like that. He'll realise that whatever 'Tace' means, happened only while Arren was away.
Last part: Arren believes 'Tace' is right. She won't be happy about it either way. Killing another soldier would only be permitted if Arren is certain that a direct threat to her life is made. Even if she gives the order herself. And even then, it would certainly lead to a court-martial back in Pyorre.
Based on your OOC comments, I believe you noticed already, but I'll still mention that Arren is very much on point here. I'd imagine this would touch Bryn in some way, at least a little.
It's true, 'Tace' has nowhere to run to, aside from perhaps joining the bandits, which is a questionable move considering they believe (as Arren might) that he was a soldier. By the way, with how things were phrased here, I don't see anything that directly leads to the conclusion that 'Tace' was not a soldier before, only that he wishes to retire from this profession (well written, Volcano).
All in all, I think you already knew most of what I had to say, but I still wanted to point those things out in case they somehow went unnoticed in this rather tense scene. Not all of them should be addressed immediately, perhaps, but these matters will surely shape how each character sees the other going forward (since, at the end of the day, we all know that one way or the other, Bryn and Arren's joint journey isn't over yet).
Currently, I imagine Arren and Bryn standing on opposite sides of the well, about equal distance from the crack that leads out of here and towards camp. Each knows that any movement beyond this point, that is not agreed upon, will probably cause the other to react. Bryn knows Arren's blade is fast enough that he might be hit before he can run out of reach, and Arren knows that Bryn is fast enough that he might slip away towards camp. Both, however, also know that the floor they stand on is slippery, which might betray their footing if they rush too much. Inside the crack, neither can move too freely, but it would mostly be in Bryn's favour, at least while Arren sticks to his sword.
Varielky | Werhann
Arren understands Tace's intentions perfectly. He simply wants none of it.
For a moment, he considers the ramifications standing before him. If he leaves him alone while he goes to speak to the Commandant, will he try to escape? Will he strike another bargain with the bandits behind their backs? And if Arren tries to stop him now, it would mean using force. He does not doubt he could do it if necessary ... but, deep down, he does not want it to come to that.
Throughout this brief consideration, his hand rests on the hilt of his sword, his gaze fixed on the man in front of him like a drawn blade. At last, he forces a measure of calm into his voice.
"Order you around? Speak down to you?" he says. "Funny, because I think you've always been free to voice your thoughts about every action we've taken. You were listened to. I supported you when I believed you were right. Yes, there were times your suggestions were dismissed. But welcome to real life. Soldier or not, you don't always get what you want."
He pauses, then lets his hand fall from the longsword to his side.
"Have it your way," Arren says quietly. "Go. I doubt you can do more damage than you already have."
He watches him leave. As he stands there alone, Arren raises a hand to his neck —still sore from the choking grip of the plant-creature—and realises with sharp clarity that this is not what wounded him most today.
Then, with a numbness born of a confrontation he never expected to face, he turns toward camp to find Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur, already weighing what he will say and what consequences will follow.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
'Tace' breathes a sigh of relief as the Sergeant removes his hand from the hilt of his sword, removing the prospect of violence and diminishing his own fight or flight reflex. With his mind free from thoughts of self preservation for the moment, he truly takes in what the Sergeant had been saying.
He is right, he didn't deserve this kind of betrayal. He is also right that real life doesn't always give you what you deserve, let alone what you want
Before he leaves, in a more subdued tone, he replies to the Sergeant. "Believe me I know what real life can do. It has tripped me up and kicked me when I have been down plenty of times. It's true you have listened to me, taken my side when you didn't have to. But I was never an equal, rank saw to that. Maybe that is the life a career soldier like you accepts and embraces, but not me. I just happened to fall into this life", he says and chuckles, although there is no real humour behind it.
"Anyway, for what it is worth, and whatever happens. I am sorry", he says and then jogs off towards the camp to find Nohem and Lann. Not that he has any reason to believe me, or accept it even if he does believe it.
Before Bryn even leaves the crack, he can already see someone standing outside. At first, he can only see that there's light outside, shining into the crack and illuminating the walls. A few more steps, around a turn, and now Bryn can see two figures. One, about his height, holding a lantern. The other, a little shorter, not too far from the first. The Commandant and the Lieutenant stand about a metre from the crack's entrance, waiting. Another step, and now, in the light, the Commandant recognises who she believes is one of her soldiers.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" She calls before Bryn can even leave the confined space between the walls. Arren, a little deeper into the cave, can dimly hear her voice, but cannot yet see her. "Have I not asked you to return before sundown?" By now, unless he stopped, Bryn stepped out of the crack and would not be standing in front of the two. The Commandant looks stern, and she might even have looked calm if she weren't shivering from the cold, which the military coat does not seem to protect against. But ignoring looks, she sounds infuriated, a tone which Arren, deeper inside, recognises even without understanding every word.
Lieutenant Tireur, meanwhile, stands as still as a statue. He doesn't seem to be as cold, but more importantly, he looks as if he believes any movement he makes could shift the Commandant's anger towards him. Beyond that, he seems expressionless.
If Bryn stops to listen, the Commandant continues, and by then, Arren can pick up most of what the Commandant practically shouts. "And on top of that, I am to hear the only report from a wounded bandit, describing how you fought some 'magical vine monster' that nearly choked him to death. And you still didn't think to come back? Do you think your wife," she pauses, now noticing Arren stepping into view, "your mother, do you think they'll accept that as an explanation if I had to knock on their door and tell them their husband, their son, will not be coming home ever again?"
Varielky | Werhann
Even though he has a little more time—his delayed arrival buying him a few extra moments—Arren is wholly unprepared to find their superiors already waiting. He had hoped for time to gather his thoughts, to decide what to say, and above all, not to do so in the Corporal's presence.
As it is, he remains silent for a moment, letting the Commandant's words hang in the cold air, before he finally finds his voice and answers.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." he begins. "We wanted to make the most of our time in the caves. To investigate, and..." He falters, the words slipping away from him, then exhales and admits plainly, "...we lost track of time. But we are fine. Mostly. Just a bit battered."
He falls silent again. For a moment, his gaze almost drifts toward Tace, as if searching for how to continue—but he stops himself before their eyes can meet, the thought of it too uncomfortable. Instead, he looks back to the Commandant.
"Could we speak somewhere more privately?" he asks. "There's… an issue we need to address. Before we discuss what we found in there."
Arren knows the Corporal would rather be with Nohem and the others before anything is revealed. Whether he voices that preference, however, is up to him.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
'Tace' does move out of the crack between the walls and stops, almost like a deer who has spotted the hunter about to loose his arrow. His fight or flight reflex failing him as he simply stands rooted to the spot.
And then the Commandant begins her tirade in earnest, which the Sergeant obediently takes, and the spell is broken. The Sergeant apologising even though he had acted so bravely under such difficult circumstances.
"Thank you Ma'am", he says to her, his voice slightly shaky from nerves and adrenaline. "The Sergeant and I were just having a discussion and you have demonstrated one of my points perfectly. We are of course deeply remorseful that you had to hear the news that soldiers under your command had valiantly fought off a magical vine creature from a wounded bandit. It must have been awful for you to have to contemplate narrowly missing out on having to write such awkward letters. And obviously that is no excuse for missing our curfew", he says more than teetering on the edge of open sarcasm, knowing he is likely doomed now anyway with his three superiors here.
"The Sergeant deserves recognition for his actions, not rebuke. You will find me back in camp, the Sergeant can explain why", he says and walks quickly away, his heart pounding almost out his chest.
He fully expects to hear the Lieutenant cocking his firearm, knowing he cannot outrun his keen night vision. Or the Commandant ordering the Sergeant to chase him down.
I only hope they are too shocked to act decisively, and will first turn to the Sergeant for an explanation.
No firearm is loaded and no order to chase is given. At first, both superior officers stare at "Tace's" back in shock. A second later, the Commandant comes back to her senses, and while Bryn is not yet too far to order her subordinates as he fears, she instead just turns to Arren. "You better think of a good explanation by the time we reach your tent."
The Commandant then turns on her heel and starts marching towards camp in silence. She doesn't walk as fast as Bryn, but she seems to hurry too, mostly due to the cold. A confused question on his face, Lieutenant Tireur waits for Arren to follow her. He'll walk next to Arren, and although he's surely full of questions, he keeps silent, sure that he'll hear everything in due time.
The first to reach camp is Bryn. By now, nearly all have finished their supper, but few still sit by the fire. It might be notable that now, only one bonefire is lit, and so all that are still outside are gathered around it. It's a bigger fire, though, to occupy the increased number of people. Fortunately, it doesn't rain, though a distant thunder can be heard. Neither Lann nor Nohem are by the fire, but if Bryn asks anyone, he'll be directed to one of the tents, where both now supposedly talk.
When the Commandant reaches the camp, she walks straight towards the carriage and the crew's tents. She stands by the larger tent, but waits for Arren to enter first, and if he does, waits for him to speak first.
Varielky | Werhann
Arren looks at Tace with the same shock as his superiors, but by the time he thinks to say anything, the Corporal is already walking away. He doesn't miss how Tace defended him—despite their clash moments earlier—but he is too overwhelmed by the Commandant's reaction, and by the conversation they will soon be having, to dwell on it just yet.
With a heavy weight settling on his shoulders, he briefly meets the Lieutenant's eyes, then follows Commandant Nattensbarn toward the tent he still shares with the Corporal ... for however long that may remain the case.
He enters the tent without delay. Though he knows the Commandant is waiting for him to speak, he allows himself a brief moment to gather his thoughts. Finally, he looks at her and begins.
"First of all, ma'am… I’m sorry for the Corporal's words. I'm as shocked as you are. Though, after what has happened, I suppose I shouldn't be."
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. The Commandant can plainly see his discomfort—confusion, uncertainty, even doubt—traits uncharacteristic of the Sergeant. He clears his throat and continues.
"Before we entered the caves, we had a tense exchange with Lann—Nohem's second-in-command. It stemmed partly from my insistence that we be allowed inside to investigate, but also from unrest among the workers. They were demanding payment for their labour, and I attempted to negotiate with the bandits on that front. That situation may yet resolve itself; we found a significant amount of gold within a sarcophagus inside the caves. And after the incident with the plant creatures, Lann appeared more amenable. It's possible the workers will be paid after all."
He pauses, collecting his thoughts.
"The issue, ma'am, is that at one point Lann threatened the Corporal—something about sheathing his tongue. It was clear to me the remark was directed specifically at him. After we left the caves, I questioned the Corporal about it. And he… evaded the truth. Not an outright lie, perhaps, but a deliberate misdirection."
Arren exhales slowly, rubbing his temples.
"That was when it clicked. I realised he had done this before—redirecting, obscuring—alongside other behaviours that suggested a lack of discipline wholly out of character for a soldier. I pressed him further. He eventually admitted to having negotiated with the bandits in secret, first after our initial encounter with them and again at the hostelry. He claims it began as an attempt to preserve his own life, and later shifted into an effort to protect the group."
Arren sighs, clearly unsettled by having to recount this at all.
"I believe there is more he hasn't told me. He admitted as much himself. But tensions were high, and he refused to continue speaking with me. He insisted he would only speak further to you, ma'am, and only in the presence of Nohem and Lann. I suspect he feels safer surrounded by them and not only by us."
He straightens slightly, his tone firming.
"He has also stated plainly that he no longer wishes to be a soldier. That he is finished with taking orders, that rank has overridden sense. Either way, after all this, I can no longer trust him. I don’t know what else he's hiding ... but I'm certain it won't be anything good."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
When 'Tace' reaches the camp, he is breathing heavily. Not from the exertion of the walk, but because of the stress of the situation, of not knowing what would befall him on that walk. Even now, entering the camp and vicinity of the campfire does not mean any sort of safety for him.
How did I get myself into this? I should have bailed the first chance I got and took my chances. Why the need to get to Pyorre? Why such an interest in Breathe Staidear?
He looks around and doesn't see Nohem and Lann, and so once he has calmed himself he will indeed ask someone as to their whereabouts.
Heading over the to the tent, he tries to think about what he will say. He has conned many people in his time, but this was another level. Possibly worse than being caught at the magic academy, which led to all this in the first place.
Is there a lie that can get me out of this, or do I just have to put myself at the mercy of these bandits?
Unless there is someone guarding the tent, he will listen for a moment outside, trying to make sure he can hear Nohem and Lann, and that he isn't surprised by any others being present. He then clears his throat and enters.
Bryn finds the tent unguarded. It is a relatively simple tent, a little weathered even, and for a moment, Bryn might question if this is the right tent at all, given his perception that Nohem and Lann are somehow 'senior' to the other bandits. But listening for a moment, he definitely recognises Nohem's voice. "...wonder if that's the soldiers, or those... vegetables, as you called them. I suppose, if he had to use that, things must be more serious than I thought." It sounds serious in tone.
If Bryn keeps listening, the tent goes quiet for a bit longer before Nohem suddenly starts speaking again. "But, as I was saying, she leapt off her donkey, looked at us for a moment, and drew a slender blade. I'd call it a rapier, but it was closer to a dagger in length. Anyway..." The longer Bryn listens, the more he hears of how Nohem was defeated by this warrior, but the story sounds mostly exaggerated. If there's any truth to it, though, that must have been one skilled fighter.
Once Bryn excuses himself in, unless he turns back instead, he interrupts whoever was talking at that moment. Both bandits look at him, confused. Bryn notices Nohem is lying down, his right shoulder wrapped in bandages fashioned from a torn sack. Lann sits next to him, and doesn't look any different than Bryn last saw him. "Ah, you must be wondering how I reached this state. Well, I was just telling Lanny here all about it. It's a bit cramped, but you may join if you wish," Nohem offers (regardless of when exactly Bryn interrupted him). "I assume that's why you're here, right?"
Meanwhile, at another part of the camp, Lieutenant Tireur sits by the carriage, using it to block off the wind, keeping an eye on the tent where Arren and the Commandant sit, but far enough that he probably can't hear anything, especially with the strong wind that's blowing. He trusts Arren enough that he needn't eavesdrop, and Arren trusts him enough not to do so. Even if, at the moment, Arren's trust in certain others has taken a hit.
Insidethe tent, Commandant Nattensbarn listens to Arren's summary of recent events, occasionally breathing into her hands or rubbing them together to heat them a little, but otherwise attentive. If Arren remains standing despite the tent's shorter height, so will she. If he sits, she'll sit somewhere that's not on anyone's things. In any case, when Arren finishes, she remains silent for a bit. Her expression is unclear, but her mind is clearly busy thinking about everything. After a moment, she sighs, stands up if the two were sitting, and turns around. "I'll see the Corporal in a bit, then. Until then, don't wander too far. Maybe eat if you're hungry. The Lieutenant will surely be glad to join you. But give me a moment to think. Alone." While, until now, Arren might have thought she looked somewhat calm - for someone who usually doesn't fear showing her wrath - hearing how emotionally charged her words are, he realises she's far from that. But it doesn't sound like anger alone that fills her now. If anything, she seems... wounded?
The Commandant leaves the tent, and after a moment, Arren hears her lashing out in Meyen, though merely a few words, likely aimed at the Lieutenant. If he leaves the tent, he'll see the Commandant walking away, out of camp, while the Lieutenant now stands where he was sitting, looking utterly confused. When he sees Arren, he can no longer contain his concern. "What happened?"
Varielky | Werhann
It doesn't take 'Tace' long to enter the tent once he is reasonably certain that it is just Nohem and Lann in there.
What is the that that they are talking about?
When the looks he is greeted with are ones of confusion, he becomes a little concerned. The conversation with the Sergeant hadn't lasted that long, unless it had taken some time for the message to get to them that Nohem and Lann wanted to speak to he and the Sergeant. Why are they confused to see me?
"Well, of course I am eager to ensure you are well, and find out what happened. But I am confused by your apparent confusion at my presence here. The Sergeant and I were told you wanted to see us. By the Lady High Elf with the Levickan accent and the man with the messy short brown hair. They turned up at the excavation site a short whole ago. Is that not the case?", he asks, eager to talk about his situation but wondering why they had been subtly ejected from the cave.
Arren stands as well and nods at the Commandant's reply. "We'll be by the fire, ma'am."
He's a little surprised by the emotion in her words, and for a moment he considers asking if she's all right, but the question dies on his lips. He doubts he would know how to answer it himself at the moment.
He steps outside after her, giving her space to separate herself from them, though he can't help watching her for a moment, trying to discern the path she takes. He also finds himself wondering whether she'll summon him and the Lieutenant when she speaks to the Corporal.
In any case, he doesn't linger long in the biting cold, and approaches the Lieutenant to whom he says quietly, "We're in a fine mess," before asking him to join him by the fire, where they can speak more comfortably. "Did she lash at you? I didn't understand what she said."
Once there, Arren finds a spot where they can talk in low voices, away from the rest of people, and relays the same information he gave the Commandant.
"I don't even know what to think anymore," he admits at last. "I'm angry, that's certain. But also… hurt. I thought we were doing well. I'd noticed moments when the Corporal didn't behave like any soldier I'd worked with before, but I suppose I chose to ignore them."
He pauses. "What does that say about me, being his closest superior, the one he spent the most time with?" He shakes his head, the weight of it all settling heavily on his shoulders.
During the conversation, Arren takes one of his rations and forces himself to take a few bites, but eventually stows it away again, his appetite gone.
(ooc: can Arren take a short rest?)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
"Ah, of course!" Nohem exclaims. "We were just expecting to see you with the Sergeant, and were surprised you were alone. Of course, I wouldn't call you all the way here just to tell you some war stories. We wanted to talk to you about..." He tries to look behind Bryn, raising his body slightly, then grunting in pain and lying back down. "Is your friend not coming then?"
"So be it," Lann interjects. "I wanted to, ah, talk about the matter we discussed previously. You know... with the payment to the workers. I know I told you to come when you're ready, but seeing Nohem needs to rest, I preferred not to keep him waiting too long."
While Nohem, at first, almost convinces Bryn with his somewhat shady excuse, it is apparent that he isn't sure how to continue. It could have been fortunate that Lann filled in when he saw Nohem struggling, but unfortunately for them, Lann is not as good a liar as Nohem, and definitely nowhere near Bryn's level. It is soon clear to Bryn that the two never expected his early arrival, or at the very least, that they didn't call him themselves. And yet, rather than deny it, they chose to conform to the story Bryn told them
The path the Commandant chose seems to be the shortest path out of camp, walking straight and with some determination. As far as Arren knows, there's nothing special in that direction. He'll also note that she didn't bother taking a light with her, despite it being very dark, with the clouds blocking what little light the moon could offer.
"Uh, yeah. But no, not really." Lieutenant Tireur answers while the two walk towards the fire. "She... umm... she asked me not to follow her, and then blurted a few words I'd rather not translate, but umm... she essentially complained about the behaviour of all... how should I translate it? 'Long-livers', let's say. Non-Humans. Not an exact translation, mind you, but I think that's what she meant."
The large fire in the camp is still surrounded by a few workers and bandits, which do not bother the two soldiers as they talk. "Ah, that'll do it." The Lieutenant finally decides once Arren is done retelling the confrontation by the well. "I expected nothing good following the Corporal's statements earlier, but if you told her what you told me, using the same words, I can see how that provoked such a reaction from her." If Arren seems confused with the Lieutenant's decisiveness, he'll add: "You know, 'rank has overridden sense'? Knowingly or not, the Corporal chose a phrase that struck a nerve. She would have said 'incompetent fool', but the meaning is similar. I don't think she'd react like that for a mere insult, so maybe some of what he said resonated with her."
After listening to Arren's concerns, the Lieutenant sighs and answers empathically. "I don't know either. Maybe the Corporal just realised he wasn't built for this kind of life. He just left the safe - and relatively comfortable - prison walls. I'm sure they didn't tell him he'll be fighting people like Emma or experiencing situations like this one. Well, none of us knew, but at least we are slightly more used to violent encounters. He did once tell me that his role in prison wasn't exactly peaceful either, but I'm sure it was different.
"Of course, none of that is enough to excuse betraying your comrades. And you couldn't have known more than he let you. I spoke with the Commandant more than anyone in recent years, and I still don't understand her. It doesn't matter if your rank is higher than his, or if mine is lower than hers. You couldn't know of the doubts eating at his heart, and I still can't tell what a young woman like her does wasting her best years sitting in front of a desk, surrounded by two people she barely speaks with. Of course, it could also be something else entirely. These are only guesses based on what we now know, in retrospect. And similarly, perhaps the Commandant has no plan at all, and simply enjoys this strange solitude and drowning herself in work." He pauses. "Beneath this," he raises his hand to point at Arren's insignia, "you're just a person. And being the least experienced at leading among us, nobody expects you to know what your subordinates think after knowing them for less than a moon's cycle."
He pauses, listening to anything Arren has to say, or just keeping silent if Arren prefers so. After about a minute, he'll suddenly raise his eyes and interrupt Arren if he is talking. "Oh, there she is. Don't tell her anything I said." He stands, and Arren follows the Lieutenant's gaze and sees the Commandant approaching.
As she draws nearer, the fire illuminates her, a rigid expression now plastered on her face like a mask, hiding any emotion she showed before. But her lips are purple from the cold, and she stops near her subordinates, reaching over the fire momentarily to warm her freezing hands. "Tace Peite wanted to meet me in the presence of the bandits, as you said." She sounds informative, emotionless. "Lieutenant, come with me. Keep your wits about you and don't make things escalate unnecessarily, but make sure your weapon is loaded, in case any of them draw their weapons. Sergeant, if you can adhere to that, you may tag along. Otherwise, keep warming by the fire, or help the physician if you want to keep yourself busy. But be ready, just in case."
Varielky | Werhann