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Were he a charitable man, Ceolfric might've blamed the booze for the horrible logic that constituted the man's reasoning. He thought to evade some skulking monster and its hordes of undead by scurrying through the bushes in the dead of night? While inebriated, at that. He certainly believed that they didn't realize anyone was around, at least. Maybe he intended to use his pudgy companion as fodder should the beast happen upon them, but that didn't explain Giles' alleged 'scheme'.

The kid popped out of fucking nowhere and rummaged through their bag, and Ceolfric did his best to not gawk at him incredulously, lest he give him away prematurely. Honestly, if he wanted whatever valuables they had stashed away, he should've just demanded it. No need to scurry about like some cutpurse urchin. Unsurprisingly, Ermes deduced they had nothing of valu- no, that was an investigation, not a robbery. How droll. 

[color=AA4A44]"It's all in the fat one's gut, if I had to guess,"[/color] Ceolfric commented dryly as he lowered his sword. If this guy felt like getting antsy, Ceolfric would have ample time to bring his weapon back up and kill the man while he kicked Ermes in the head or something. Odd that they didn't even have a flask on them, but hardly damning. This entire situation was just mundane enough to ignore but just odd enough to be trouble.

[color=aa4a44]"Then again, I don't like to guess when I can [i]know[/i]."[/color] Every second wasted on these buffoons was a second not spent sleeping. What was his next move? Threaten to start prying off fingernails until this guy vomits out a motive that might not even concern Ceolfric in the slightest? He'd be here all night and probably risk retaliation from their nebulous conclave besides. Not that he feared the connections of a few drunkards, but it was still a bit early to be collecting enemies.

The bandit's eyes regarded the man disdainfully even as sickly sweet aether danced over his tongue. Whatever excuse this old fool had for the boy didn't matter; he'd given them courtesy enough. [color=aa4a44]"Fine, we'll dispense with the violence,"[/color] Ceolfric spoke, his words heavy with sorcerous power - an immaterial temptation that muddled minds and lowered inhibitions as surely as any physical intoxicant. [color=aa4a44]"Tell me your real intentions. Who you are, where you're going, and what you intend to do once you're there."[/color] He punctuated his command with a resounding snap of his fingers, as if to illustrate his desire for expedience. 
 
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