The Ward's Guard

While Kuno's thoughts didn't portray any details, he was clearly intrigued. "I will admit, you were right in your estimation for you skills at stealth. Although it seems that you are quite skilled at gathering information. Before I make any more decisions I must know, how far are you willing to go?"

"Everything that you believe is relevant enough to go into a report."

Kuno's mind remained unchanged. "Everything my friend, I want to hear everything that you discovered."

Kuno's mind is calm."All is good, what did you hear?"

"Good, 'cause I was worried that I missed meeting a person." Pior then paused again. "Concerto who also happens to be a dangerous wanted amal is dead, and his killer is in running distance?"

"Now wait a second. Who killed Kade." Pior felt very much like a bystander.

Pior perked up from his snacks. Kuno stood off to the side, out of the way of the kitchen servants with Catorphia standing next to him. He recognizes that Fie has entered the room and waits for Fie to come to him.

"I've been mainly positioned at posts abroad. I can't remember the last post I had on a Confederate island. Come, we need to hurry up so that we can help Quinn." The colonel marched up towards the lord's study, he knocked loudly when he approached the door.

Kuno arrived at the second door on the left with Catorphia right behind him. Catorphia knocked once, then walked through the door, scanning the entire room as she went in. Kuno was close behind her, closing the door once he was inside. There were two other minds in the room, one thinking nervously, and the other feeling confident. Kuno and Catorphia regarded them. No, Kuno regarded her as there was only three bodies in the room in all. Kuno addressed them, "Now tell me Jane, what is happening. Jane responded by speaking out loud, "I couldn't get details. My contacts in high positions have started to clam up. What I can tell is that they're on the move, and fast. They've also been trying to develop, but my information says that their scientists are stuck at match locks." Kuno wasn't pleased at this revelation. "We'll need to remind your friends why they've been offering their assistance in the past, as well as why they should be helping us now." Jane focused on Kuno, "we tried, but they still refuse to talk." The last mind spoke to the one called Jane, although there was voice that accompanied it. "Maybe if you had let me handle it, things could have gone far better." Jane seemed to ignore this internal comment. "They either aren't taking us seriously, or they have something worst motivating them to not help us." Kuno experienced a brief spark of frustration, then his mental veneer returned. "The answer is simple, we must inform them how serious I am, and who it is that they should be more worried about. Besides, I'd hate a premature ending to our relationship." Jane loathed the thought of hurting the leverage that they had over her contacts. "There has to be something else that we can do, I mean . . ." The second mind spoke mentally to Jane again, "Go on, tell him. Tell him that you are soft." Kuno regarded them as they argued internally, he waited for only a short time before speaking. "Surely you understand Vulles." The second mind, Vulles, spoke verbally in Jane's stead. "I don't. It seems to be underhanded and cruel. Yet, it makes it all challenging. This makes me wonder," Vulles glared towards Kuno, "why would you have us do this? You're the fool who has been crystal clear on not harming them." Jane mentally winced as Vulles spoke to Kuno, showing very little respect. Kuno simply smirked. "It's as simple as staying true to my word. I made a promise to our friends, and I intend to keep it." Kuno looked up at Vulles and Jane once more, seeing that their questions weren't satisfied. He shook his head. "My friends, it's as simple as them outliving their usefulness to us. If they can't follow the simplest of commands, then I know that I can't rely on them. So now they have two choices: stay useful to me," Kuno's mind turned cold for a moment, "or become an example." As quickly as it came, the moment passed, and Kuno's mind returned to normal. Jane and Vulles nodded as one. Vulles understood, but Jane did not fully understand. It was Jane that spoke, "if it's what you think is best, then I will make sure it gets done." Kuno nodded, satisfied. "Very well, I need to tend to something immediately. I will returned shortly." From Kuno's mind came one stark thought, "Kitchen." Kuno turned and left the room with Catorphia close behind him. @Chasmgoat

The Colonel turned to face both Maddy and the Butler. "Where can I find Lord Douger?"

"Colonel Tulcam, Raodean Army. I have a mission directly from the Military command that I must speak with Lord Douger about immediately. This will only take a moment of his time."

Tulcam walked up to the door before the butler could close it. "I need to speak with Lord Douger on military business."

Tulcam walked up to the front door, he looked up when he saw Lloyd. "Now what are you doing here?"

Kuno was pleased. "Good, then I think this will go well." Kuno approached a local tavern, although instead of using the front door, he walked around to the worker's entrance. As he made his way into the kitchen, no one gave him a second glance. He turned to Fie, "my next meeting is upstairs, in a private room. You may follow me whenever you wish my friend; although try to stay out of these workers' way, they aren't fond of tripping over people. You're job will be to observe without being seen. After the meeting, I will talk with you in detail about what happened. At no point in time will I directly or indirectly tell my friend upstairs that you'll be there. You think you can manage under those conditions?"

Colonel Tulcam approached the manor of the Lord Douger. As he did, he noticed people at the Manor's front entrance. He moved in to see what was happening. @Negative_Null @Ookla the Hemalurgic Pinto

Kuno thought about it. "Both is good. Might as well see how stealthy you can be at the same time. If you don't want to do this, then I'll find some other way to get you involved. It just won't be as exciting."

Kuno was amused. "Just follow. All you must do is tell me about the person that I'm meeting when we get there. If you're right, and they don't notice, then you'll have proven just how good you are."

Kuno was pleased at this. "You'll of course have to prove this to me." He raised a hand as if to stop a rebuttal. "It's not a matter of trust, I just want to witness your abilities for yourself. Besides, if what you've said is true, then you'll be immeasurably helpful to me and what I'm trying to do." Kuno made a snap decision. "How about you come with me to my next meeting. It's not terribly eventful, but it would prove your powers to me."

Tulcam nods Cadenza and walks off to Lord Douger's residence, expecting Maddy to be close behind.

"Feel? You can't say something like that and not explain my friend."

"Good, good." Kuno begins walking. "What kind of skills do you have my friend, I'll need to know if I'm too make good use of you."

"I wouldn't say that, but never mind. Maddy, you and I need to talk with Lord Douger." Tulcam turned to Cadenza, "We'll be back soon, I just need to make sure that Douger knows that I'm getting Maddy's help with this." @Condensation

"Come with me to the front 'Q.'" He turned to Ellis, "feel free to browse the aisles."

Tulcam turned to Cadenza and Maddy. "Where did your friend 'Lloyd' go?" @Matrim’s Dice

"I can always use more help," Kuno straightened himself to walk off. Would you mind walking with me friend? I love talking and walking."