Karl's first mouthful of the next course was well received, but his chewing halted on the words 'live mouse.' He gave Rukeewei, Ariel, and Sabine worried looks. However, the conversation moved on by the time he swallowed.

"Hmmmmm," Ariel's response to Meesei inflected with interest. "I could use something like that for a great many things. But, I am no less interested in using it to keep in touch with all of you." She put her hands in her lap. "I admit, there were some times when I started out in Thorn where I would just feel flat, tired, desperate just to speak with old friends and family." She smiled at Rukeewei. "I had friends, it was true..." Her eyes went to Meesei again. "I still felt I missed Vos and the rest of you after spending so much time. Especially Sabine. I think more regular visits will be wonderful, if it suits you."

Sabine nodded vigorously. "I may be busy in the coming few months, but I will try to make time."

"It's settled then. We'll take you up on your kind offer, Meesei." Ariel grinned and finally got started on her meal.

"I can empathise with you on your feelings, Ariel," Karl added. "When I first moved out of Wayrest, there was so much new and unknown that it exhausted me on numerous occasions. I felt very homesick. I sometimes still do."

Ariel looked at Sabine and Karl sideways. "Perhaps you two need a romantic honeymoon in Wayrest's summer." The joke passed quickly as Ariel addressed Meesei once more. "Speaking of romance, Sabine tells me you have found some time for another lately. I understand she had reasons to be secretive over her letters, so I don't know much more than that, but it was still a pleasant surprise. Is there anything more you can tell us or is it still a little too forbidden?"

[hr]
Teroiah's lips pursed in as if she was holding a mouthful of needles. Her eyes narrowed at Neesa as if warning her of treading such ground alluding to her recent defeat would make any difference to the vampire's attitude.

Gro-Tagnud did not know the context. He continued bluntly. "I don't know if the daedra of a prince who's wheelhouse is deception are going to be so easy to goad into straightforward single combat, but that can at least give us some insight to develop our strategy." He looked to Teroiah. "Twenty minutes is a long time in a fight, let alone adding how long it'll take for people to sneak around to where they need to be. However, the way I see it, it'll take us even longer to fight our way to those sites loudly as one army. We can't afford to to spend any extra time when the enemy is going to outnumber us so much. We'd be ground down like grain in a mill. As for pulling this misdirection strategy off, let's imagine ourselves as long-lived beings who can talk face to face with our subordinates on demand and have a real high opinion of our prowess and the enemy's stupidity."

He eyed Teroiah and Hal-Neesa for an extra second with his stern features.

"How do they handle this situation?" He continued. "How do we convince them they are in control? How do we maintain that while taking control away from them?"