[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
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Many of those paladins that had been laid low by Eos's magic were given a reprieve that a number of their comrades in the front ranks were not, as Zacharias called out to detain rather than execute the lot. The attempted capture and execution of the Grovemaster was over almost before it had begun; looking over the faces of the kneeling and defeated warriors, Esben thought he could recognize a few from Isolde's betrayal, the pain of defeat stronger in their expressions knowing that they'd failed twice over to deal with the problem the Kirins presented them.

Better yet, Miina and Rudolf had managed to escape whatever altercation they'd found relatively unscathed, arriving soon enough that he didn't have to go out looking for them. [color=#b3ccff]"That's easier for us, at least,"[/color] he mused to Cid and Zacharias as the pair walked up. [color=#b3ccff]"Hopefully they'll have some good news."[/color]

As had thus far been the case in Drana Asnaeu, his hopes and his reality were completely at odds with one another.

Valheimer interference. He'd expected it; as he'd said to Cid the day before, he figured Isolde to be in either knowing or unknowing league with the invaders. Her willingness to buy into single-minded zealotry was more than enough to come to that conclusion, whether it was an obfuscation or she truly was that stupid didn't matter. He'd still [i]hoped[/i] that it was just at her level, even after everything he'd read to cast aspersions on Alambert as well before finding his way to Zacharias's grove.

Hoped that she was acting on her own to work with them, or that Valheim had gotten more creative, planted some of their people to act as the schismatics, to drive the division deeper and were using her. Hoped that he would actually have the [i]time[/i] to dive to the heart of the schism and interrogate some of those that were helping perpetuate it. Hoped he'd be able to answer any of the multitude of questions that the place had drawn up at his own pace.

Instead—they'd barely made it back to the city in time to prevent the worst case scenario. Once again, barely avoiding an unmitigated disaster. Even then, due to the lack of time they had, Isolde had to be removed. No chance getting any good information from her, nor did it seem they would have the time to get through the paladins and find out anything useful that way. Alambert, already assassinated, the strange behavior that had been noticed by both of the other Grovemasters the result of the busy schedule that had to be maintained by the one that had stolen his face.

Looked right at him in that council chamber, concealing any reactions just as [i]he'd[/i] been taught. After a nearly sleepless three-day boat ride upriver to meet with them. Unforgivable enough that he hadn't caught on to Isolde and hadn't taken the opportunities as they traveled to try and get anything proactively, but not to catch onto the few subtle tells that [i]were[/i] there, the way the conversation had been so effortlessly twisted around to discredit every last thing that the Kirins were trying to accomplish...

[color=#b3ccff]"Loki,"[/color] he repeated after a moment, looking over to Rudolf as he and Éliane planned retrieving the cannon. [color=#b3ccff]"You're sure you heard correctly?"[/color] It would be easier to assume they hadn't. Or that there was a more subtle plan at work, and to try and trust the process. But if even Kayliss was concerned enough by the silence to bring it up with him, knowing that Loki had always been careful to get her reports in and keep things properly taken care of, [i]and[/i] knowing the importance of his own mission, there was little chance of that.

Most likely, she'd already suspected it. Even if he'd only graduated the middle of his class, that was due as much to the nature of the work they'd already had him doing while he was still ostensibly in training as to his own idiosyncrasies; between the nature of the mission he'd been sent out on, the fact that even when he didn't do what was necessarily [i]intended[/i] he wasn't reprimanded for it and was instead given leave to continue as he saw fit, and the other things he'd been entrusted to hear and learn from the deputy director, he knew he was likely near the top of her best students through the years.

At times, he was tutored by one of the others. An engineered, enforced personal connection. Kayliss was in the top ranks of the organization for a reason, and that would have to include the safeguards she would put in place between the competing personalities of her agents to keep them all in balance. Always preparing in case something should go wrong.

Rudolf turned away from Éliane, nodding once and tapping at one ear with the barest hint of a wince. [color=c0392b]"I wasn't until I cross-referenced with Miina, but yes—nothing else fit the sound."[/color]

[color=#b3ccff]"She probably found it all very entertaining,"[/color] he mumbled bleakly. [color=#b3ccff]"But now I'm not sure if I was the bait, the trap, or the target."[/color] At least it made him feel better about the constant arguing not to kill all the Grovemasters. Had they tried in the first place—it may have worked against Zacharias and Isolde. 'Alambert' would have gotten away, the country's leadership would've been left in near total disarray, and they would have done all of Valheim's work for them.

'Alambert' would have been able to turn the country against them, the invasion would have gone off without a hitch. Unhappy as he was with the situation, he'd been close to agreeing a few times, as well. Yet, continuing with everything else he'd been experiencing since they stepped off of Bikke's boat, he wouldn't even have the time to try and process any of it. Hopefully afterwards, but if the last eighteen days had taught him anything, he'd be busy trying to mitigate all the rest of the group instead.

No time for any of it, now. If hope and reality couldn't align, he could at least try and make the reality the best he could.

[color=#b3ccff]"Our timeline gets truncated further with every new development."[/color] He pointed at the gunblade Rudolf held. [color=#b3ccff]"That's not Skaeller make, that's Valheimer. Likely they—and Loki—were trusting that nearly nobody here would be able to tell the difference. Makes things easier and faster, and fits with the plan to invade, there's no need to be too subtle there. Loki's infiltration was probably the longest step of this, and given that we don't know just how long she's been here—more than a month at least, from what I've seen—we have to assume that [i]our[/i] goal is compromised."[/color]

He turned back to Zacharias and Cid. [color=#b3ccff]"Whether we can help repel an invasion or not, we [i]have[/i] to secure the crystal. If they're fast about grabbing the cannon, they can meet us there. Were there any paladins that weren't swayed by Isolde's demagoguery? If so, we may need them ready to support us."[/color]