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[Redcoat]

Anikus heard the knock on his doorframe. He jumped slightly; his paranoia was still aflame. But he trusted the dagger at his side enough to respond.

He turned to the door cordially, nodding in response to S'ven's suggestion. "It would seem so," he replied, gesturing to a chair. "What would you wish to discuss, Mystic?"

The scholar sat down. He did not yet properly know this man, and he supposed it was only proper that he learn about him and his motivations. He had destroyed a Valdich Royal Guard, and his magic and aura told Anikus that he was in no way a Valdich. Even a sympathizer--Stars help them if they even existed--would have some sort of veneer on them, without a spell. And yet Anikus only detected his own magic at work; the rest stored in objects.

[Nowe]

"I wish to discuss one, perhaps two things," replied S'ven casually, "The first, most obvious and prudent, would be the Shards. I know that they are merely fragments of a whole, and thus their name. I know of the legends about them. What I do not know, is why you hunt them, and what course of actions have brought you to do so. You claim that you hunt them to keep them safe from the Valdich, but the Valdich proclaim that they are there to find the shards - and use them - to protect the world from a greater evil, or so the old legends say. Quite frankly, their story isn't worth a sheep's carcass."

S'ven stared at Anikus, he needed answers, "So tell me, Anikus, why do you hunt these shards?"

[Redcoat]

"We can skip over what you know from the conversation outside," Anikus said tactfully. "You could agree that, in all practical terms, there is no observed potential evil greater than the Valdich hordes, yes?"

S'ven nodded in response, and so Anikus continued. "I serve an organization that I generally and genuinely believe in. Naturally, I believe it is a force for good in this world. But I cannot disguise the fact that it is, like all of us, imperfect. The point is that having the Shards--at least some--in the possession of the Crown makes their use far more unlikely. And with the Valdich going after these devices, I can't imagine them being anything but a problem."

He thought for a moment, pausing and stroking his stubble.

"Perhaps if they could one day be destroyed..."

[Nowe]

Running a hand through his hair, S'ven gazed intently at this scholar. Certainly the man was no idiot, as he didn't fully even trust his own organization, but even more certain was the fact that the crown had always been wise in its decisions. "If all is as you say, Anikus, then I may be of some use, before the Valdich can find it. I might know the location of one of the shards, as posited in the ancient lore of my people. The legend dates farther back than my great-grandfather. It speaks of a vast desert on a small continent, and within that desert lies the shard. I would try to translate from our language what the legend says, but I do not believe I would be able to find the right words. Perhaps you know of this place?"

[Redcoat]

"I have no particular affinity with the Arano continent, but it seems to fit the description of what you provide me with," Anikus said, withdrawing his journal. "My information informs me of a Shard in such a place, but I am not familiar with its true location."

"Could you inform me of your people's legend... S'ven, is it?" he asked. "You never know what might be useful."

[Nowe]

"I will do my best to translate it from the original tongue," he replied.

"Where the sands of the desert gather in place,
Over and across the sea, hidden in their dusty grasp,
Lies in mystery.

Ancient powers unfortold, by wind or land or sea,
Lie in this abode of earth,
Still in mystery.

When one is two, and two once again are one,
One becomes two, to understand,
Again in mystery."

S'ven looked across the table at the scholar, who began looking more worried during the translation of the ancient poem. "Are you alright, Anikus?" he inquired.

[kmag1up]

Arnab took in a deep breath. She then took in another deep breath, by her fourteen deep breath she still couldn't still the turning in her stomach as she slowly walked up to the ship filled with the most amazeing people she had ever seen. To watch how they moved, their elegance seemed to have no bounds.
'and to avoid such a drama as they seem to holding at this point in time.' she thought to herself. Arnab had a deep feeling that her inner dialogs where deep and insightful for what she said to the world was more often then not mistaken for stupid. Her family was not pleased with her bar hopping, bed jumping, dishonorable ways, but nothing in this world please her more then a good fight and a good night.
Slowly she edged closer to the ship, every step feeling like lead as she wrapped a bandanna around her face, appearing to become as a thief in the night. she muttered some musical notes along with her ducking and dodging as she fought herself to get closer and possibly on the ship.

[Redcoat]

Arnab's conniving served her well, as, over the next hours, the crew went to sleep and gradually calmed down. Tomorrow, they would set sail for the Outback, stowaway in tow, and find themselves on an entirely new journey.

OOC: Sorry. This post sucks. I know.