[b]"So? What are your initial thoughts and opinions?"[/b] whispered Buxton, her shadowy eyes darting about the place to ensure they weren't being watched. This was a conversation that they would not tolerate anyone else listening to, and they were both prepared to spill blood were it necessary. 

Chester too looked around as he walked beside his leader, a horse's reign is in his right hand. The two of them spoke as they led the horses from the stable to the pitching posts outside the inn. [b]“There are a few that I'm sceptical of.”[/b] he let his thoughts conjure for a moment before continuing, [b]“I overheard Drusus and Karen speaking in soft voices in her room last night. I did not interrupt as I did not want them to know that I was aware. I think we should keep our eyes on them to see if they are up to anything together.”[/b]

[b]“Are you sure you’re not just jealous?” she jibed with a smile. When Chester shot her a cold glance back in response her demeanour turned serious once more. “OK, let’s make sure they aren’t given the opportunity to be alone for a while. If they have things to say to each other, they’ll have to say it in front of us.” In truth the Consano not only had the objective of finding the source of the Plague, but to find out who was interested in it and why. And what better way to find out who was interested by allowing others to join their little journey? They knew that there had to be people that knew more about the plague, and that whatever the source was, it was likely something that those that craved power would try to obtain and abuse. 

[b]“I also have my doubts about Sarah. She is Dawnish and believer in the Church of Light. Moreover she clearly has secrets and would not disclose her reasons and motivations for joining.”[/b] Chester kept a stony impression, not wanting to show any emotions; he knew that Katrina would wonder if his doubts were personal, so he did he best to seem objective. 

[b]“She doesn’t strike me as a threat… but looks can be deceiving.”[/b] Katrina muttered. She went to utter more words but they escaped her as her gaze caught sight of a dead pigeon beside a wall. Its grey feathers were messy and covered in blood, an arrow lodged in its side. No sooner did she lay eyes on it however did she loose interest and turn back to the conversation. [b]“What about Orwen? Do you think we can really trust that shit-breathed snake?”[/b] she asked almost rhetorically.

[b]“Actually I do.”[/b] he replied, much to Buxton’s jaw gaping surprise. “His intentions are clear, and if anything he seems [i]too[/i] honest – [i]too[/i] willing to voice his thoughts. He stands much to gain from helping us, whereas he stands to lose much if we are unsuccessful. If Vasili falls then he loses his property, his slaves, his links, and his clients. We’ve commandeered many of his ships, and those which we haven’t won’t be able to get passed the Dawnish blockade, so he can’t even ship everything off to safety.”[/b]

[b]“[i]Humph[/i]. Well it’s nice to know that we’re putting our lives on the line to protect his slave trade. Did you speak to anyone else?”[/b]

[b]“I spoke to Mathis, another Sunshine. He says he’s an explorer of the North and to be honest I don’t find him too threatening, but still worth keeping an eye on of course. We also had another gentleman come in this morning…”[/b] Chester tried to think of how to articulate his opinions of the ancient man he’d met shortly before, the mix of spices and old people still lingering in his nose. [b]“I don’t think we should accept him.”[/b]

[b]“Oh? You don’t trust him? Who is he?”[/b] she inquired, suddenly concerned. If a recruit couldn’t be trusted to join them, then they couldn’t be trusted to wonder freely either. Though it was not known beyond the Knights Table, any recruit was faced with two paths: join or die. They had already killed three, two of which had decided a suicide mission wasn’t for them and a third who they deemed too high a risk. 

[b]“No, it’s just that he’s incredibly old. He claims to be Shikoba Athanasi, a tribal legend said to inhabit the mountains in the Northern Spine. He’d be ancient now, so I suppose our recruit does match the profile there. But even if he is the very same man said to have trained Cain and others, I can’t see how much he could for us now… save for holding us up.”[/b] he was very matter-of-fact about the situation, and knew that if most had been in his position that they probably would have shown less respect and laughed the old man away. 

[b]“He must be fairly versatile to have made it this far, if he’s telling the truth of course.”[/b] she retorted with a shrug, [b]“I say let him come along. At worst he falls behind, gets left behind and is picked off. At best he turns out to be more capable than we thought. If he’s come from the Northern part of the Spine then he probably knows the land better than any of us do, and will probably get along better with the locals.”[/b] 

It was hard for Chester to disagree with her logic, as much as he wanted to, and there wasn’t enough grounds for him to disobey her. [b]“As you wish. And your opinions?”[/b] he asked as they reached the hitching posts. These were the last two horses to be added to the large herd scattered on the street in front of the inn. No doubt the moving of the animals caused enough noise to wake a few locals, regardless of how quiet Buxton and Chester tried to be. Worse still, if any locals nearby did wake up then they were likely to be greeted with the nice ripe fragrance of horse shit. The horses had been well fed in preparation for the journey and the road was clearly now paying for it. 

Not too fazed by the excrement Buxton indulged her colleague with her thoughts on the team. [b]“Can’t say I’m too impressed with your lads, but Walter Finn seems capable enough and they’ve behaved [i]fairly[/i] well – if you trust them then so will I. I spoke to Gewain after leaving Orwen’s room, and he seemed genuine enough. Not a lot of combat experience by the sounds of it, but I’m sure some of the men will appreciate a priest tagging along. I spoke to Zacharias too, and again he seems fairly genuine. He was a Dawnish soldier so he can fight. They both claim to simply wanting to help fight this scourge.”[/b]

[b]“And you believe them?”[/b] queried Chester with a perplexed frown, slightly taken back by what he took was naiveness. 

Buxton smirked and shook her head, [b]“Assume nothing. Believe nothing. Challenge everything. But until they give me reason otherwise I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt, or at least pretend to.”[/b]