Gallus did not hesitate to resume their trek when Hiritus stood up. The information he was getting was better than he had reasonably expected. Hopefully it would continue.

"The Argonian, hm," Gallus began to comment, somewhat darkly, "The last I heard of her, she was begging for her son's life. She's probably dead by now, yes. Rather tragic." Gallus sniffed in a quick breath, not betraying any other previous events. "Funny thing is, infecting him with lycanthropy might have cured him. Lycans don't get sick. I wonder what she would have done if she knew that?"

Gallus had no interest in hearing about whatever cure that Vile's followers had managed to find. He knew that cures existed, but not what they were. He only knew that it was an incredibly harrowing process. Some rumours even suggested having to physically fight a manifestation one's own beast spirit.

"So, I am guessing you've been to that fortress then," Gallus continued, "What makes Do'rhajul's defence so strong, exactly? How many people are there?" Gallus furrowed his brow, "And does the Dominion mind that you have a garrisoned stronghold near a major city?"

Hiritus shrugged his shoulders. "Probably would have infected him. She just cared that he is alive and well. She was a sweet woman, to be honest. Not at all suited for what we do; she was just completely dedicated to her son. Of course, by the time she had been infected, she couldn't really turn back from the mission. She had already struck her deal with Vile, so betraying him really wouldn't have worked out well for either of them."

When Gallus started asking about the fortress, Hiritus gave him a strange look briefly before looking back ahead and answering. "I haven't been there, actually. I just know its reputation. And it's also not that close to Corinthe. Not nearly as close as this stronghold is to Orcrest. It's pretty far into the forest, away from any locations important to the Dominion. There aren't any major mines or trade routes near it, just forest. It wouldn't make for a good staging post against Corinthe, or any other city, and Dominion patrols don't have a reason to go there. We expect to be able to keep out of their sight; it's the lycans that they anticipated would find it. You're always out in the wilds hunting, or whatever else. It's a stronghold against the werebeasts."

"Anyway, how privy were you to information about the rest of Tamriel? If the Champion was directing your operations like we think, then...well you were close to her. The closest defector we've had to date. What kind of plans does she have in other parts of the world?"

Gallus looked ahead, trying not to react to his minor overstep. "I was privy to some planning, yes. There were a number of plans that were in motion around Tamriel, tactics required on multiple fronts. Some were going better than others." Gallus raised his brow and gave Hiritus a glance. "I wasn't really close to the champion until we set out for Elsweyr. The strategic details are broad, patchy, and tend to change quickly, but I do know the location of a few more strongholds that had remained hidden for the most part."

Gallus was starting to dip into purer lies at this point. He turned more neutral and tried to think of something to say that wasn't so suspicious.

"Are there many defectors from Hircine's ranks? Any more lycans?" Gallus asked. At least it seemed reasonable, given his position.

This time, Hiritus did not regard Gallus with near as much suspicion. He relaxed slightly from his elevated state of awareness, though now that his suspicion had been created, further mistakes were likely to generate more of a reaction from him. They were moving on at a more reasonable pace than before, but he was still slower than Gallus, and with the route they were taking, it was becoming less likely that they would reach Orcrest in a day.

"There are some, yes. Obviously, I don't know how many there are in all of Tamriel, but I've seen a few. Some of them weren't lycans, and were just former worshipers of the Daedra. But, I've seen two or three lycans make the switch over the years. From what I've heard, most of the lycans come seeking a cure. Those beasts you served certainly weren't going to give them one. Of course, the only defectors we actually accept are the ones willing to make themselves useful. Lord Vile is not a priest looking to give charity. He and his followers demand something in return. Of course, the lycans wanting cures usually are the new ones, so they also don't have that much information. I don't know if you want to purify your blood or not, but you're an exception in that regard. You'll definitely have an easier time than most of the others. You've already done a great service for us, so sharing that information would just solidify your place among us. If you actually want to remain one of those monsters, you can be granted immunity from the culling." Hiritus explained.

Unlike the defectors that Hiritus was likely describing, Gallus had never lived a day in his life without his beast spirit. The thought of having that integral part of him get torn out and show up missing whenever he found it was dizzying. He could only imagine the experience being similar to Dar-tzesa's when she lost her arm.

Gallus answered before he could get too lost in his thoughts. "I think I'll go without a cure, thank you," he said quickly. "You probably hear that being a lycan is a horrid experience, but...so is adulthood. You get used to it."

For a moment, Gallus glanced at the ground in front of him. This 'culling' was likely what he most needed to know about. If he couldn't get an answer here, then he might have to hold off on killing Hiritus until he could. That might mean going all the way and becoming a double-agent.

"You say 'granted immunity.' It is as if what you are describing is a disease." Gallus broached, "Is that what this 'culling' is, or is there simply a grand plan to march out and kill as many lycans as possible with silver spears?"

Hiritus gave a brief shrug. "Well, the goal has always been to wipe Tamriel free of lycanthropy, presumably to cripple Hircine's hold in Tamriel. Once we cull them all, Vile will be satisfied. Immunity just means you'll be spared that fate, with some limitations. You're, uh, strongly encouraged to get cured after it's all over. If not, you have to ensure that you will never have children, and will never spread the disease in any other way."

There was a short pause as Hiritus looked away for a moment, contemplating. He curled his lips and turned back, speaking more quietly by habit, as if there was someone out in the middle of the wastes to overhear them. "But, uh, between you and me, I don't think that's going to happen. The higher-ups have been giving those deals, but I don't think Vile ever made that offer. Get cured and you'll be fine, but I think Vile is going to tie off any loose ends after the culling, if you get my meaning. He wants all of the lycans gone, as many of their souls harvested as possible, with no possibility of return. Don't worry though, if you're as useful as I think, you'll live like a king after this is over. That'll more than make up for losing that beast living in your body." He explained.

Gallus crossed his arms. "I'll think about it," he said. Being reminded of Vile's capricious nature was something of a tiny shock in that regard. He could see many people getting exploited whether they were getting a cure or not.

Regardless, the real question—the nature of this culling—had gone unanswered. Either Hiritus didn't know or he was being deliberately evasive. Gallus decided he would have to try again later.

"How about you?" Gallus asked out of more genuine curiosity, "What are you getting out of all of this, jester? Riches? Power?"

"Eh, a bit of both." Hiritus answered. "Talented people can earn a lot of wealth and influence from the Daedric Prince of wishes, which, as a sidenote, is not that intimidating of a title said out loud. Regardless, someone like me, an orphaned street rat from the slums of Dune, can get more than he ever could on his own. I don't know how I ever survived my childhood in that place. Nearly didn't, if I'm being honest. It took me a while to actually become a decent thief. I figure after this is all over, I'll be able to get a small manor by the ocean, maybe hire some hands to farm the land for moon sugar, maybe some lovely servants, and live the rest of my days comfortably. And I'll even have helped wipe out a disease that's been threatening Tamriel for all of recorded history. It's not often that someone can earn a fortune and still feel good about themselves afterwards."

Hiritus' walking pace has settled to a steady, if slightly slowed pace, and he was not longer showing as many signs of weakness. Of course, unless he remained well-fed and received frequent care from healers, it could be weeks before he was back to normal. "Of course, I would hardly call Clavicus Vile one of the 'good' Daedra. I doubt he's doing this out of charity. He wants something out of it, and I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't told even the General himself. My guess is he wants to take some of Hircine's power, so he needs to weaken him first by killing his followers. But, I don't know. I don't know why he's doing it, or how we're actually going to finish the culling, but I know there is a plan in place."

Daedric prince of wishes? I thought he was a Daedra of pacts, Gallus almost said out loud. He wondered what else they had lied to Hiritus about. With the amount of people in Vile's employ, it was unlikely that someone like him would get his manor, either. Unless Meesei's head would reward as much up front.

In any case, it wouldn't matter. Hiritus didn't appear to know anything more about the culling. There was no point questioning him further in that topic. There would only be value in other possible knowledge. Gallus decided to explore for just that while they had the time.

"Tell me, Hiritus. How much do you know about lycans?" Gallus asked directly, "How much did your friends tell you?"

"I've been taught how to kill them." Hiritus answered quickly, though his expression fact became more uncertain. "Although...I'm not really the warrior type. They're tough, can heal back from some pretty grievous wounds, and will almost always overpower you. I'm an infiltrator, so I'm better at stabbing them in the back than in the front, so to speak. Silver is preferred, since it stunts your healing, but a wound that would be immediately lethal to a normal person still works. If you're fighting one in their beast form, you want to not face them up close, since that is a stupid idea. Range is ultimately the best weapon against lycans."

Looking ahead, Hiritus' face showed some dread at how far they still needed to walk, and he started to slow down slightly, more out of his mental state than his physical one. "Other than fighting, though, I know they have keen senses, powerful muscles, and strong instincts. When they first start out, lycans are uncontrollable and dangerous. They murder travelers, farmers and their livestock, and even guard patrols if they don't look too threatening. I know there are a lot of people who have joined our cause to get revenge for lost friends and loved ones, especially with how many lycans there seem to be recently. Your people must be going out and finding people to turn constantly for you to keep up those kinds of numbers." He commented.

"Also...I don't think I'll be able to make it to the city today. I'm just not feeling strong enough for that. We'll probably need to make camp this evening." He added.

"I figured as much," Gallus responded dryly, "We'll take rests as needed and set up camp nearer to sunset." He glanced over his shoulder, "If we're lucky, we will have evaded any attempts to follow us. There's still a chance that they could pick up our trail, though. We shouldn't relax just yet."

Gallus thought it unnecessary to fill the apparent gaps in Hiritus' knowledge regarding lycans. He would not be living through the night anyway, but if he knew lycans better, he would probably have more reason to by distrustful of Gallus' lone defection. Otherwise, it was food for Gallus' thought to have the recent swelling of the lycan population expressed from the perspective of victims of feral initiates. It was an ironic side-effect that recruitment to Hircine's ranks would inspire recruitment in Vile's in turn. Gallus wished that infections could be more controlled amongst lycans, if only to reduce overall suffering.

"One more thing," Gallus began, "Apart from those that arrived in the Orcrest clan with you and Dar-tzesa, are there any other infiltrators there?" There was unlikely to be much else to ask unless something came to mind while they walked.

With Gallus' agreement, Hiritus seemed quite eager to take him up on the offer of a rest, even though they had just stopped not long prior. This time, he had another need to satisfy other than fatigue or thirst. "Well, in that case, let's stop right here for a moment. I know it might surprise you, but I haven't exactly been eating well for the past week. I need something to give me energy. I hope you brought something other than raw meat, because I'm pretty sure those disease resistance potions I've been taking have worn off by now." He explained, stopping where he was on the side of a dune.

As they sat down, Hiritus practically dove into the bag to find something edible. Avoiding the meat for the moment, the first thing he grabbed was a bright green apple, something sweet and full of sugar to give him energy. Now that he was not captive, he was much more willing to eat properly. Although, with Gallus' final question, Hiritus gave him another curious look. "Why do you ask?" He said simply, raising a brow.

Gallus stayed standing and did not go for any food in their little break. Thankfully, He was being cautious enough that he knew how to answer Hiritus without hesitation. He had thought ahead.

"Because, jester, if it turns out that Meesei dying changes the leadership, that means that plans and strategy could change depending on who takes it up." Gallus crossed his arms again as he gave his level answer, "My immediate information could be useless, but if you have a man on the inside still, I might be able to provide some insight depending on who fills the power vacuum. I got to know plenty of people in there, do you understand?" Gallus angled his head and gave what he believed to be a further justified question, "If any, are there infiltrators close to the leadership of the Orcrest clan still?"

Gallus returned Hiritus' look with a righteous low brow at being doubted.

Hiritus chuckled. "If it changes their leadership? Unless they plan on communing with her from beyond the grave on a regular basis, I think that's pretty much guaranteed. At any rate, we were the first to find that clan, and we couldn't send out any runners to let our people in Orcrest know about it before we were captured. Assuming you imprisoned all of my team, we don't have anyone we can use in there. I thought I earned the, uh, 'affection' of a Khajiit woman during my time there, but as it turns out, I think she's the type who has everyone's affection, if you catch my meaning."

On the horizon, there was still no sign that they were being followed. However, now that they were stopped, Gallus could possibly pick up on the first hint that they were being followed. He had them moving with the wind at their back, so it carried scents towards them from behind. They were in a trough between two dunes, so most of the winds were blowing over them, but he still might catch the faint scent of lycans on the wind. Meesei, Ahnasha, and possibly the others with them were capable of rendering themselves invisible, so they could well be within line of sight without Hiritus knowing. If they were close, then they would come to Gallus' aid if he needed it, or if Meesei felt that they were drawing too close to Orcrest to be safe. Regardless of what information they might gain, Meesei felt it too risky to allow Hiritus to make contact with his allies again.

Gallus actually smiled briefly. "Hmph, lucky you were taking those disease resistance potions," he commented without elaborating.

With the scent of his allies on the wind, Gallus was reassured enough to relax a little. He and Hiritus might exchange some small-talk, but there was little more of use that Gallus felt as though he could uncover. The temptation to infiltrate and find out more about the planned culling was tempting, although Gallus had not decided how to proceed just yet. He figured that he could leave his decision until they made camp for the night. At any rate, taking the first watch would be the ideal time to put Hiritus down.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Orcrest clanhome, the regular crowds were dispersing back to their duties after lunch. Fendros, having something on his mind, sought out Jo'rashaad, the mage and father that they rescued from captivity. Fendros had Rhazii in tow as Ahnasha was out trailing Gallus with Meesei and the others that went along.

Fendros managed to catch Jo'rashaad before he left the dining chamber. He waved the man down and greeted him. "Jo'rashaad, it is good to see you. Do you have a moment to talk?" Fendros asked with a neutral look.

Rhazii looked up at Jo'rashaad curiously as he held onto Fendros' hand. He didn't say anything just yet.

The pattern of walking, then resting continued for the majority of the day. Hiritus kept up conversation periodically, asking about the clan, Meesei's companions, and just general questions about Gallus and his intentions. He asked to see the Ring of Hircine at one point, but did not actually ask Gallus to demonstrate its use immediately. He did mention that he wanted to see what it could do at some point, but since they were busy traveling, he was not greatly concerned with it at the moment.

It was a few hours before nightfall when Hiritus could go no farther. He was both exhausted and starving, so after they set up their camp, he went immediately to searching through their bags for a proper meal. There was plenty of meat to be had, but of course, they did not actually have anything with which to make a fire. At least, not that would last long enough to cook anything. After a brief internal debate, he decided he would go ahead and eat what they had raw and simply get a cure for anything he might catch once they were at the hideout.

---

Jo'rashaad was alone at the moment that Fendros found him. He seemed to be distracted with his thoughts when Fendros called his name, so there was a few moments delay before he responded. "Oh, apologies. This one was just...distracted. Yes, Jo'rashaad would be glad to speak with you. Is there anything you need help with? You need only ask."

Like most of Ra'kalesh's pride, Jo'rashaad felt great respect and gratitude towards Meesei and her pack. They did not speak quite as often as they did before they found the Senchal clan, but nothing about his attitude towards them had changed during their journey to Orcrest.

There was no protest from Gallus when Hiritus declared that he had reached his limits. "We're downwind and we've covered plenty of distance," he said, "here is as good a place to set down for the night."

Gallus sat himself onto the ground, hearing his knees click with relief after standing and walking for hours on end. He was more patient and decisive about retrieving his dinner than Hiritus was. He unrolled a map that he had taken with him to consult their next moves while he ate. It was mostly and act, given what else could happen that night.

"So, jester." Gallus spoke between mouthfuls as he looked down at the hide map, "What's the food like at your...cell?"

---

Fendros raised a hand to dismiss the need for assistance. "Oh, no, no, I just had a couple of things to ask you." Fendros glanced to a nearby empty table and then looked back to Jo'rashaad. "Shall we sit?"

When they got to the table, Fendros lifted Rhazii onto his lap and allowed him to look around and chew on the end of his tail. Fendros at first spoke to Jo'rashaad with simple appreciation. "I heard from Meesei that you and S'ajira were willing to watch over Rhazii and Newt while we were on our march. You have no idea how much that means to us. Thank you."

With a pause for a breath, Fendros fidgeted a tiny amount, as if unsure if he should ask his next question. "How has Ciinriel been coping?"

Hiritus seemed to have a brief moment of confusion with Gallus' question. "Depends, do you mean the cell your people put me in, or the cell up in Orcrest? To the former, I would think you would know the answer to that, since you were the one feeding me. To the latter, it was nothing special. Khajiit cuisine, same as anywhere else in this part of the Dominion. I will say that most of what I had was actually cooked, instead of cut straight off of some animal. Or person, as those cannibals seem to like. Just...don't tell me what kind of meat it was you grabbed for our supplies. At this point, I don't want to know."

---

Jo'rashaad broke eye contact and let out a brief sigh. There was quite a bit of uncertainty in his eyes, mixed with a hint of sadness. "Well...her spirits have been up since we found this clan. She's been smiling more, and has been opening up to friends. It's just...we never really talk about what happened before. How could we? Even with what Jo'rashaad went through, he does not know what he could say to help her. We're just...doing what we can, this one supposes. It will get better in time, it has to."

Looking back up at Fendros, Jo'rashaad attempted to regain his composure. "But...that cannot be helped now. Both this one and his mate are glad to help you. We were debating on whether we should join in the attack, but we have a responsibility to our family, and now, your families."

Gallus snorted and was about to make a sarcastic remark to Hiritus' request for clarification, but Hiritus seemed content in continuing to talk without a pause. As for his comment on cannibalism, Gallus raised an eyebrow. He had normalised the practice, having grown up around it, but he understood the sensitivities of non-lycans around the topic. With a half-grin, though, he saw no reason to be sensitive here.

"What? Are you sure you knew the origins of every piece of meat you ate there?" He teased. With a short chuckle, he took a bite of his own portion, "If it makes you feel any better, this stuff doesn't taste like a humanoid."

Gallus then rolled up the map and put it away. They would not be building a fire in order to remain hidden, but someone from the Orcrest clan taught him a trick when in rocky desert terrain: The heat of the sun stays in the rocks longer than in the sand or the air. They could construct - admittedly uncomfortable - cots out of the rocks to hold out in the night without freezing. It was better than lugging around a tent for the entire trek.

Gallus began shifting rocks until they were in a loop that would hold his form for the night while he spoke. "You keep giving criticisms about living amongst the clan. Apart from that affection you got from La'tahne, was there anything you actually enjoyed?"

---

Much like what Jo'rashaad had mentioned, Fendros couldn't immediately think of what to say to help their situation. He simply gave an understanding nod. Perhaps it might help to share his own experiences later, but there were other things to talk about right now.

"Right, we had the same debate amongst ourselves," Fendros answered, "We have responsibility for the children, but Meesei also has as much responsibility to all of us, so we have to assist her as her pack." Fendros managed a smile and ruffled the top of Rhazii's head, "I hope they won't be too much trouble. You won't give Jo'rashaad, S'ajira, and Ciinriel a hard time, won't you, little one?"

Rhazii, still with the end of his tail in his mouth, turned his head around to look at Fendros with a mix of curiosity and understanding. He shook his head in an exaggerated manner, as toddlers did, but did not speak beyond a muffled "Nuh-uh."

Fendros looked to Jo'rashaad again and took a breath. "There is something else I wanted to ask you, though. Don't tell Ahnasha I asked, but..." Fendros glanced away for only a moment, biting his cheek and bringing the words to mind, "...I have been thinking about things. I have been reminded of a few spiritual aspects that I feel I should look at and...well..." Fendros' eyes met Jo'rashaad's with a sideways look, "Are there any culturally particular ways that Khajiit marry or propose?"

"Hmph, you know, I think it's a bit late to try and convert me." Hiritus joked, though he currently looked quite obviously uncomfortable as he ate. The raw meat seemed to be almost sickening to him, and since he no longer had a reason to hide it, he was making his feelings on the matter quite obvious.

Putting down the cut of meat for a moment, Hiritus took a long drink of his water. "Anyway, I'm not really keen on living among savages. Granted, that stronghold is a bit less savage than the homes of wild lycans, but still raw meat, instinct-fueled fights, simple clothing, when they could be bothered to wear anything at all. It's like animals trying to act civilized. You might not know it now, but give it time. The longer you're with us, the more backwards it will all seem to you. You're saving yourself from that life. I guess it is nice that they actually take care of their own when they need help, unlike certain degenerates in Dune, but there are other groups that do the same."

---

Jo'rashaad leaned in towards Rhazii with a wide smile. "You'll enjoy yourself little one, trust Jo'rashaad. He still remembers a lot of the things he enjoyed when he was young, and he is eager to share them with you. He also knows a sure way to get rid of that urge to chew on your tail."

With Fendros' question, Jo'rashaad raised his brow, quickly realizing the real reason Fendros had approached him. He could not help but to smile once more, even if he was not sure that he could be of much help. "Well, yes, there are. In both Pelletine and Anequina, there are traditions for how two people should go about being married. But...are you sure you would want to attempt those with Ahnasha? She is not from Elsweyr, correct? The customs of Elsweyr are ones that neither of you have a history with. You know her better than Jo'rashaad, of course, but are you sure you would not want to use a tradition from either of your homelands?"