“Hell nah. I’m not getting impaled on a spear. You go.” Darnell offered as an additional reply when Dr Ibarra looked at him. He was at the completed wall, peering out with his shotgun in hand. He sounded more sober now. “They’re probably figuring out how many soldiers they’ll need to take us out. We’re so fucked.” Zhao responded to Vigdis over comms almost immediately from the top deck. She sounded quite glad to hear her voice but tried not to show it. “In the bay? No chance. Inside the ship? Errr, say five minutes except compartments with fractures. What is happening outside? Windows give shitty view. People are scared.” [hr] [quote][color=d3c28b]"Was that a threat that I heard, Silbermine?"[/color] she asked, looking at the Glen noble with a clearly hostile stare. Silbermine's arrogance and his constant threats were finally taking a toll on Nellara's patience. [color=d3c28b]"Do not let your arrogance blind you. Take a look around you. Not only you have invaded Ascendancy territory, and directly challenged a Castigator's authority, but you are threatening to steal and 'claim' the fortress of sentient beings. Your words and actions are more fitting of a pillager than a noble knight. Please, conduct yourself as someone fitting of your status."[/color] Nellara said as she looked at him.[/quote] The large Glen’s eyes narrowed. He growled softly and took one step forward as she continued to insult him. His voice went quieter as his eyes bored into Nellara’s while replying. “I am no [i]knight[/i], nor pillaging knave. I am Gesith Silbermine, LORD of Keraknúr, Margrave-Warden of the northern passage and protector of Sudenúr since the tragic passing of Lord Brunnenstar. I have the King of Mythadia’s ear, and can lead an army of thousands to protect these Sky People in days if you endanger them. You will [b]know[/b] if i’m threatening you, you crook-beaked fucking churl.” That bit about having the ear of the King wasn’t strictly true. He had always favoured Silbermine’s father over him - once he had died, Gesith was forced to fight for his political life. That was why the Sky People were so important to him, prophecy aside - having them as champions in the Running would shower House Silbermine in glory and treasure. This Castigator would likely know very little about that though. [quote][color=d3c28b]"I hope you haven't forgotten who exactly I am... Silbermine. You speak with a Castigator. I have enough authority to mobilize an entire army too if I so deem necessary. If I told the Order of Magisters what happened here today... What you and your knights tried to do today, retaliation against your house, maybe even your nation would be certain..."[/color] She said, threatening Silbermine back.[/quote] [hr] Outside in the crisp morning air, Zey had a better view of proceedings. Most of the aliens they’d encountered before had gathered on the thin lip that the Jotunheim had caught on that prevented it from rolling back down the hill. Some of them were watching her curiously. The others looked out at twenty plus elk-things, and two of the bird-things they’d met earlier lower down the hill. The scary looking one and the studious one. She could hear the distant sound of braying and squawking, which she presumed was them communicating. Zey really wanted to rub her tired eyes and itch her nose, but kept the mask on and tried to think of a plan. What would her diplomat mother do? “Ok, I do want the pens. Someone chuck me the pens.” Zey called, turning back to their hastily erected barricade. After a little while, Itxaro threw her a box of fifty and clambered down herself. Zey smiled gratefully and nodded, for the pens and the company. She patted Dr Ibarra’s arm. “Let's go. Eva, can you get out here too and guard the entrance? I want them to see we have a big stick while we’re softly talking. Zey then set off, carefully navigating her way down the hill while holding the box of pens. “Negative - we can’t risk flying yet.” She replied to Mallory while trying not to fall down the rocky slope. “I’m heading down there; if shells are all we’ve got then you’d best pray they buy the distraction. If this goes sideways and that doesn’t work, I’m probably dead and you’re in charge. Put the shell as close as possible to my location without bringing the whole hillside down.” [hr] Silbermine took a minute while Nellara continued pontificating to calm himself again. Suddenly, movement behind the two Tekeri before him caught his eye. At first he thought it was a couple of Iriad approaching him, but their bark was too smooth. They wore strange garments that Silbermine had never seen before. They must be the Sky People! He pointed to them, a smug excitement filling his voice. “Nonsense! See how they come now to talk to us.” [hr] The walk out into No Man’s Land took an eternity. Zey tried to figure out what to say, then realised these elk-things, Glen she seemed to remember them being called, wouldn’t understand her. She hoped their actions spoke as loud as words, and that gift giving was universal in this world too. Then the Tekeri Nellara turned and said enemies, plus something else. Stay? “Nope. Too invested to stay.” Zey chuckled nervously, continuing to step forward. These ‘Glen’ were massive up close. They dwarfed Zey and Itxaro in pretty much every dimension. Their leader, the one in intricate armour, was fidgeting and emanating a mixture of honks and whines at Nellara. [hr] “The Sky People are perfectly safe with me and my men. The real danger is a landslide destroying their temple altogether! I merely want to discuss something with them!” Silbermine scoffed, gesturing up the hill with his head. As if to prove his point, the Glen studied these approaching Sky People, put his forehands together with fingers aimed at them in a traditional Mythadian greeting. He took one step forward, as did his knights so their lord wasn’t too close to the visibly agitated Castigator. “Greetings, my friends! Welcome to Sudenúr. I am Gesith Silbermine, and I come to offer you assistance, in exchange for wisdom.” [hr] Zey flinched when the Glen moved forward, gulping hard. Every impulse in her body was screaming at her to run. Her right hand crept up her body towards her pistol holster. “Give these three a pen, nice and slow now. We come in peace.” She whispered to Itxaro, then smiled nervously at the aliens.