Gallus did not look up from the map as Lorag rebutted his suggestion. He curled his lips, but only gave conceding nods. Lorag was blunt, but he was correct. Ri'vashi's idea, on the other hand, held more water. Gallus at first glanced to her sceptically, but as he breathed in to respond, he stopped and furrowed his brow. "Oh...that could work, actually," he said in a low, anticipating voice. "Yes..."

Gallus stepped back from the table and extended an arm. "If we position troops on the edge of the tree line with ladders, feinting with a token force using the terrain, the defenders may be redirected to repel them from the walls." He glanced to the others, "But what if the ladder teams simply...stand there? What is the commander to do? If he redirects to the gate, the ladders might advance and take the walls. If he doesn't, his forces are displaced." Gallus looked to Ri'vashi for confirmation, "Was that what you were thinking?" Gallus also gave Lorag a look to see if he thought it would work.

[hr]
"Hm," Fendros stopped to try and remember something. "I remember seeing that village on signs and maps, but I'm not sure if we ever visited it. I think we've passed by it through the woods on our way between Bruma and the Imperial City, perhaps."

There was a pause where Fendros found one detail curious. Irenya seemed still very much a Dunmer in beliefs, with ties to ancestors and such. However, if she didn't know about what her mother was doing now..."Have you ever thought about trying to visit your mother?" Fendros asked.

Fendros mildly acknowledged how funny it was that Irenya had told much more about herself than he or Ahnasha had revealed to her. Still, at least Irenya seemed open and honest. Perhaps the conversation would turn around again.