Xyden had almost given up on finding Leith when fate itself seemed to intervene, depositing the Land Strider before him such that he almost slithered right into him and bowled him over. He stopped moments before that happened, but it seemed to him to be proof of the justness of his cause, however grim it may be. The Leith Land Strider questioned his armour, as he had expected. He rarely wore the imposing and vicious shaped armour as it held no purpose in the safe confines of the college, and even more rarely carried his large bladed trident as he had observed that his strength, fangs and constricting coils outmatched the meagre natural defenses of the majority of Surface Dwellers.

He had prepared for this line of questioning, and he delivered his prepared story on cue, relying on the fact that many still considered him something of an enigma to lend it credence. “There are many Surface Dwellers… gathering before the bastions of this place… as though to invade…” He still spoke haltingly as his unusually shaped mouth would never allow for perfect use of the common tongue, but he was at least more familiar with the language than when he had arrived. “The air is permeated… with the stench of fear… and mistrust… I am prepared… should relations… break down.” He knew that the armies were not here to fight, but how could Surface Dwellers be trusted not to give into their hatred of one another? They were rash and emotional beings that often acted without thinking.

“Leith… I require your… favor…” He began. It had been difficult to make this fit with his story, and he was hoping the Land Strider didn’t question it much. “I need you… to find the staff that are not... tending to the armies… Tell them… I have found Land Striders… that smell... of the armies… on the other side of the college.” He did not know the word for it, but he was implying heavily with his tone that they were not supposed to be there. This was, of course, a lie, as was what came next. “I am tracking the scent… of more… of these outsider Land Striders… to where they should not be… and cannot divert or I will… lose the trail…” Xyden only hoped that this would be sufficient for Leith to rouse the suspicions and draw away the remaining teachers. Then his path to Marya would be clear, Xanaphya willing.