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[i][b]Metropolis[/b][/i]
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Yalen wiped his mouth with a napkin and picked up the last cookie on his dessert plate. He broke it in half with the intention of dipping it into his tea, and when he did a small metal disc fell out and clattered onto the table. The sudden noise shocked him, but he was quick to retrieve the fallen object and hold it up for observation. There was a message printed upon it, helpfully translated into Avincian so that even the young priest could understand its meaning. Underneath the instructions was a phrase. Or more accurately, a name: Smoking Bandit.

Yalen shifted his gaze to the Black Guard named on the plate. He had been assigned the pipe smoking gunslinger on the far end of the table. Rough-and-tumble types like Desmond were not his ideal company, but men like that tended to get straight to the point, so Yalen did not expect this talk to take long at all. He gave his escort a subtle nod, which was met by a confident sneer from the other side. They both vacated their chairs without missing a beat, quickly departing for the hedge maze as a few others continued to pick halfheartedly at their food. 

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It was unfortunate that Jocasta chose to get directly involved today. Yalen had finally made up his mind about who to side with in this conflict, but he wouldn’t be able to defend his position if it meant raising a hand against his her. This foreign affair was not worth the heartache he would suffer from betraying his wife. 

[color=fd5e53][i]But there is always a small chance I can convince her.[/i][/color] Yalen decided he would probe the Black Guard like he originally planned. He wanted to know what kind of person Smoking Bandit was, and if his people were worth the risk of turning on Wu Long. Trypano was definitely right about something. Someone was going to rule this country, and soon it might not be its native people. After thinking about it for a day, Yalen decided it would be best to maintain the status quo in Rettan for the sake of its continued stability. Nikan was making hostile moves in this country, and Brother Ash’s continued existence presented its own unknown danger. Outside forces were circling Rettan like sharks, waiting to feast on the victor of this civil war. 

[color=fd5e53][i]This country is enormous. If Wu Long successfully overthrows the emperors, it would take days to assume control of the chain of command even with the help of the Watchful Eye. His forces will be weakened by the initial struggle, and more manpower will have to be devoted to arresting imperial loyalists across Rettan. It will be difficult to keep the border protected in the middle of such chaos. This is not a safe time to be demanding a revolution. [/i][/color] So the Somnian rationalized his feelings about the present situation. Xiulan deserved to be happy, but the price of her freedom was too great. 

Smoking Bandit was tall and lean. He walked just behind Yalen in a dull brown cloak. A wide-brimmed sedge hat, old and battered, sat atop his head and his eyes glowed from between its gaps with a fiendish orange light. Smoke curled from the tip of a long, curved pipe that hung from the corner of his mouth. Presently he removed it to speak. [color=8C7D70]"Somnian, huh? So yer all about justice I 'spose."[/color] His voice was a low, menacing drawl, his teeth crooked and yellow. Across his chest were strapped six pistols and a dagger and, across his back, was a shovel.

If his appearance and demeanour didn't send a strong enough message, there was the sheer [i]power[/i] that he radiated. Only Jocasta, of the people who Yalen could claim to know well, had ever shown more. Smoke continued to curl from his pipe: a miasma filling the air around him, twisting out towards the leafy green walls and the young priest with tenebrous tendrils. After a moment, he continued. 

[color=8C7D70]"Listen, lil' padre, I ain't about to pretend I'm yer pal or somethin', 'cause I ain't and I don' like lyin'."[/color] He scowled, struck a match, and relit his pipe. He took a couple of long pulls and breathed outward, the smoke once again taking on that unnatural quality. It appeared to fill the entirety of the space between the hedges, hanging low and heavy in the air.

[color=8C7D70]"Truth of it's that the Twins don' think there's any good reason we should be at odds."[/color] He gestured momentarily with his pipe, his free hand resting on the butt of the pistol holstered on his belt. [color=8C7D70]"Yer bein used n' lied to an' yuh shouldn't be doin' people like that no favours."[/color] He scowled, eyes still more or less only visible as embers in the shadows of the burgeoning evening. [color=8C7D70]"So I been sent here with a counter-offer."[/color] He took another quick puff of the pipe and grinned, his crooked teeth gleaming around it. [color=8C7D70]"'Stead o' fightin' against the guys tryin' to keep some law n' order in this place, yuh help us take out the Traveler. She's been stickin' her nose in Retan's business, where it don' belong, n' people are gonna die because of it."[/color] He wrinkled his nose. [color=8C7D70]"Yuh get all the help yuh need, too, but uh... Ash first, huh?"[/color] He smiled wickedly, [i]knowingly[/i]. [color=8C7D70]"He's a gods-damned radical: one o' them Traveler folk n' not even a [i]genuine[/i] one. I can kinda respect those, in a way."[/color] He shook his head in distaste. [color=8C7D70]"Nah. He's cynical - greedy - n' he's juss usin' the words all hollow-like."[/color]

If Yalen was at all surprised that the Black Guard knew of Brother Ash's continued survival, Smoking Bandit seemed unbothered. [color=8C7D70]"Yuh really think Soup and Spring are that stupid?"[/color] There was a brief chuckle as he shook his head. [color=8C7D70]"'Yuh coulda finished 'im too and yuh didn't."[/color] He scowled. [color=8C7D70]"Why?"[/color] It wasn't a question meant to go unanswered.

Yalen had a hard time keeping his head cool as Smoking Bandit threatened him. He was about to provoke this very powerful man in order to test him, and such a move might prove to be the priest’s undoing. Yalen could only be strong now because he had faith in his friends, and in the Pentad. If it was time to die at least he would die with integrity.

 [color=fd5e53]"I have no love for that man."[/color] Yalen replied. [color=fd5e53]"He has information I want. That is the only reason I desired his continued survival."[/color] His fists clenched. [color=fd5e53]"Besides, a Quentic slaying one of their own without due process...? It would be an abomination. Only a Rezaindian like Brother Ash could be so heartless."[/color] Flicking away a wisp of smoke, Yalen continued. This was the part where he poked the beehive. Was Smoking Bandit holding anything back? Were there any concessions Yalen might be able to pry out of him? There was a lot you could learn from a person by making them mad… or so he’d been taught by Sister D’aureville. [color=fd5e53]"I wanted to help you from the first day I arrived here, you know. I fought alongside your men. I took prisoners. I did my duty only to be told that I was fighting rebels and foreign mercenaries, not the Traveler's agents. Unless you have something to show me, I can't make myself believe you or the Emperors."[/color]

[color=8C7D70]"I'd say yer not as smart as yuh look,"[/color] the Black Guard replied, [color=8C7D70]"but yuh don't look all that smart anyhow."[/color] Smoke curled from his lips. [color=8C7D70]"Was it [i]us[/i] who lied to yuh or yer school?"[/color] He narrowed those emberlike eyes.

[color=fd5e53]"I've done quite a bit of good for the world by believing in the school."[/color] Yalen shrugged. [color=fd5e53]"What else do you want to ask me?"[/color] 

[color=8C7D70]"Looks like y'ain't gonna budge, huh?"[/color] They were approaching a dead end and a wall of deep green loomed before them. [color=8C7D70]"I said I don't lie, boy. It's your bad choice not to believe it. School played us all for dupes. Maybe yer forgettin' there's new management there since yer lil' adventure out in Torragon, and they ain't good people."[/color] He shook his head and the smoke began to thicken further. He had nothing to ask. His free hand continued to rest on the butt of his pistol. The energy in the air grew thicker.

[color=fd5e53]"I've wanted to believe you from the start. You chose to come empty handed instead of showing me some proof."[/color] Yalen crossed his arms behind his back. [color=fd5e53]"I'm not strong enough to defeat you. If you'd rather shoot me than try and change my mind, that is your choice to make."[/color] [color=fd5e53][i]Oops, that might have been too bold. I really hope he won’t shoot me…![/i][/color] His heart quickened in anticipation. 

Smoking Bandit pulled at his pipe. A couple of seconds later, smoke came out of his nostrils. [color=8C7D70]"I git the impression ain't nothin' I could reasonably pull out'd satisfy yuh anyway."[/color] The silence was filled with the chirps of crickets. The sun had sunk below the hedges. [color=8C7D70]"What reason I got to lie, boy?"[/color] he groaned. [color=8C7D70]"[i]Think[/i] for a second, will yuh? Don't they [i]educate[/i] yuh priests?"[/color] He disappeard in a haze and, when he reappeared, he was between Yalen and the way back. Smoking Bandit began stalking forward, toward the young tethered. [color=8C7D70]"Ain't it in the best interests of Retan to git rid o' Ash? To git rid o' the Traveler in case she comes back? Gives it another go 'n for [i]real[/i] this time? How's it hurt us bringin' another useful person aboard, 'specially when our interests align and [i]'specially[/i] when the alternative is to fight 'n kill 'n [i]waste[/i] yuh? Hell, yuh can even have that no-good traitor if yuh want. Lock 'im up. 'terrogate 'im. I don't give a rat's ass. We juss don' want 'im round these parts. This ain't [i]half[/i] as high stakes for us as it is for you, boy! Comprende?"[/color]

[color=fd5e53][i]That’s a good look on your face.[/i][/color] Yalen grinned. [color=fd5e53]"I like you sir. You hold nothing back. No matter how hard I push, I cannot see any lying in you.[/color] He came closer to Smoking Bandit, this time with a sincere smile. [color=fd5e53]"Your face tells me that whether you are right or not, you believe what you're saying. I am grateful for your honesty."[/color] In moments, Yalen's eyes clouded with guilt. [color=fd5e53]"I know we both have something to gain by helping each other but... when my wife got involved, I was sworn to stay by her side. My oaths to Ipte weigh heavier on the scales than any mortal concern, and if she tries to fight you, then she and I will fight together and talk it out if we still draw breath. I hope you understand my feelings as a man."[/color]

Smoking Bandit scowled, otherwise unreadable. His face grew cold and stony and smoke trickled from the corner of his mouth. The sun was close to setting now, though they could not see it beyond the hedges. He nodded tightly, a silhouette in the shimmering miasma. [color=8C7D70]"So be it, padre. Ain't Ipte you'll be needin' soon."[/color] Then, the smoke thickened swirled and Yalen was left alone deep inside the labyrinth.