Eliz leaned on the table, hands joined under her chin as she looked at Maire. There was a feint smirk as she spoke of poison jars. It came to surprise for Eliz that Maire would actually suggest using poison, even more so, that she'd had already given the production orders to her thralls. Poison would always be seen as an underhanded way to do things. Not that Eliz cared of course, what she wanted was results and she wouldn't deny the use of weapons with splash damage. They'd do admirably under her guidance.

Then of course, there was that little sting. Maire was right, Eliz would never miss such slights, but it made her raise her chin in an arrogant sneer, as this proved that Maire was nothing but a cowering snake that couldn't afford to face her head on. No matter what damage her own reputation had suffered, Eliz was confident that she still held more sway than this fat little thorn in her side. And she also believed that was because she never allowed anything to slide.

Which was why to that menacing gaze, she answered with wide grin, full of teeth and confidence. One would perhaps be careful when dealing with an alchemist that just spoke of fabricating poison, but Eliz saw this in a much different light. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. The only reason Eliz hadn't asked to duel Maire to humiliate her either in defeat, having to chose a champion or to refuse the challenge was because the rest of the council and the gods themselves would see this with disapproval, and it was now why she oozed with certitude that Maire's hands were tied. And that indeed, the best thing to do, was to push things even further.

By keeping the undeclared war between the two of them known and more open than not, if Eliz died, everyone would look at Maire on the very moment her body was found. Worst still, even if it wasn't the case, the gods themselves would no doubt punish such murderous actions and people would have no choice but be confronted with the truth. No, Maire had made a mistake. To consider Eliz's aggressive, even reckless stance on all things to be stupidity, to consider her a person to hot headed to think. Eliz wouldn't be the one to cross the invisible line in the sand, but she'd dance on it, that was for sure.

And that was why Eliz got up, bowing in false humility to Maire. "I thank thee for your kind words, but I assure you it was barely a challenge at all and I am glad the council supported me all along. Which is why I'd like to announce my intention to the council to, before moon season, clear the pests in the barrows and avenge our fallen following the previous little mistakes that were made by our first expedition. With the approval of those sitting here, of course."

Eliz seeking approval for something? That was new, but mostly it was because she didn't care for this to be denied. No, this was just to push Maire's mistakes on the stage. Of course she knew she'd have to deliver if Serhiem accepted her request, but she wasn't worried. After all, thus far she had known only success and, gods willing, this would continue for the reminder of the year.

It wasn't there for a second, she didn't even care to hide it, a look of pure confidence, superiority and arrogance straight at Maire, daring to say something, anything for or against that.

[i]What will you do? What can you even do?[/i]

Oh it would be that easy, surely Maire had a few tricks up her sleeve and if not death, no doubt Eliz could get a bad diarrhea, but one had to push the advantage.

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I need to post about that Raid