You all manage to find without too much trouble a small home located in the West Dock neighborhood of Midland district. Cassiel finds the door to the home open and makes his way inside. He finds a cozy chamber within the small home filled with the fragrant haze of flowers and strong spice. The haze comes from several sticks of incense smoldering in wall-mounted burners that look like butterfly-winged elves.
The smoke itself seems to soften the edges and gives the room a dream-like feel. The walls are draped with brocaded tapestries, one showing a black-skulled beast juggling men's hears, another showing a pair of angels dancing atop a snow-blasted mountain. A third tapestry on the far wall depicts a tall hooded figure shrouded in mist, a flaming sword held in a skeletal hand. Several brightly-colored rugs cover the floor, but the room's only furnishing are a wooden table covered by a bright red throw-cloth and several elegant tall-backed chairs. A basket covered by blue cloth sits under the table.
As Cassiel is the first to arrive, he finds a simple note on the table, weighed down with a stone paperweight. Shortly after Cassiel finishes the note, Emanuel arrives, followed a few minutes after by Velius. After about ten minutes Alessio and Katrina find their way to the home.
It was a cold day today.
Cold days were never pleasant to endure. No matter how well-armoured a man is or how much power is at his command, the chill of the air and the way it relentlessly breezes through the chinks in the armour reminds one of just how vulnerable he really is.
But today was... different. A trip out for a sweet roll turned into something sweeter than anything else.
Cassiel eyes the card that he just pulled from his pocket. At first, he thought some cutpurse got to him and left a calling card of sorts to mock him. The Paladin--oh, real funny. Just wait until I get my hands on you--
But after checking his pockets, he found his coin purse to be just where he left it.
Then he read the message on the back of the card and everything changed. His heart skipped a beat.
3 Lancet Street... where's that?!
One quick request for directions later, and he took off through the streets of Korvosa.
I'm not letting this pass me by. Emmah... you'll rest easy soon. I swear.
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3 Lancet Street wasn't much to look at from the outside. Some of the outside walls were in need of repair and he could swear the front window barely fit its aged frame. Inside, however, was a much different story.
It had all the atmosphere of a magician's shop. Cassiel never had much reason to venture inside a place like this--most owners of such shops went out of their way to make sure they gave the Korvosan Guard little reason to visit them. But today clearly was a special occasion, if his mysterious contact was willing to send a message to an ex-Guardsman.
The note on the table promised something to eat and drink while he waited for his host to arrive. Huh... I expected him (or is it her?) to at least say hello before she went to run errands or whatever. It's only polite.
Before he has a chance to look under the table, Cassiel hears the door open again, and he turns in time to see a man with the trappings of a mage enter. "Oh... greetings, sir. Are you the one who sent me this?"
The man holds up his card.
Emanuel approaches the house on Lancet St with trepidation and sees the door has been left slightly ajar. He looks around nervously, pushing his hair back and out of his eyes. The street is neither busy nor empty and no one is paying him any attention whatsoever. Typical.
He tentatively pushes the door open to enter and is immediately face to face with an armored knight who questions his presence and flashes him a Harrow card in a style similar to the one he received.
what?... no, I'm sorry, I can't say that I am... My name is Emanuel, I was invited he hastily wipes his hand on his britches and extends it in greeting. At the same time he starts looking over every inch of the room.
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The day had started out ordinarily enough. She had arisen from her cot in the temple, bathed, and, once dressed, gone outside to conduct her morning prayers towards the rising sun with her fellow clergy in the temple dedicated to the goddess Sarenrae. But then she had gone to clean the small alter assigned to her for her morning duties only to find a card waiting for her.
The message had been short and rather blunt, dredging up parts of her past she had tried numerous times to leave behind her only to fail anew with each attempt. But if someone was willing to take on the beast named Gaedren, and they desired her help, she would be one of the first to sign up.
After a quick cleaning of the alter and a prayer seeking the blessing of the goddess, Katrina left a note for her father, and donned her armor and weapons, before setting out to the streets to seek the address: 3 Lancet Street. Taking her time, she asked several people what they knew about the address and how to get there only getting partial pieces of information but it was enough, she supposed to check out the house.
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The directions weren't perfect but once she got closer she was able to find it with only a couple of questions from the locals. As she approached the building, Katrina reached to the holy symbol worn around her neck. "The dawn brings new light." She whispered offering her prayer of hope for what may lie in store before moving to the open door and moving to walk inside.
he turns in surprise at the new arrival and stares at her expectantly
The appearance of this new card took Alessio aback. Where could it have come from? he wondered. No one had come into this flea-bitten room while he slept, of that he was certain. The chair that he had propped against the door remained in its location the window was still secured.
The thought that someone had addressed his humiliation tormented him and sent everything else from his mind. Who knows? Why is this person confronting me with ...THAT? Even if this is the bait for a trap, Alessio was driven to learn who is behind this mysterious note. It was simply intolerable that someone could hold his secret shame over him.
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Lancet Street was unknown to him. The proprietor of the shanty in which he stayed told Alessio how to find it. The vile lout smirked at something unsaid as informed Alessio. Does he know more than he lets on?
With a clipped goodbye, Alessio made his way toward the address. After a few steps, he whistled and, a moment later, a small gray bird landed on his shoulder and accompanied him on his journey.
Every few steps, Alessio turned about to look for pursuers or potential cut-purses. Some areas of Korvosa demanded such precautions. But the walk proved uneventful until the young witch stood in front of the doorway of Number Three.
A woman stood on the threshold, he back to the street. Alessio strained his eyes in examining her. Was she armed? Are her shoulders too wide to be those of a woman? Is it one of Lamm's thugs in disguise?
Alessio would have stared all day if a hawk had not flown close to menace his thrush and break the man's reverie. Without thought beyond protecting his familiar, Alessio stepped inside the doorway and was then struck by the realization that, now that he was here, he had no plan.
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The young woman stood at just over five and a half feet tall with shoulder-length reddish- brown hair pulled back to reveal her slightly pointed ears. She stood at the doorway for a moment taking in the scene with her bright green eyes. Slowly she reached to her belt pouch, passing by the hilt of her curved sword and held up a single card for inspection. "I found this card at the temple are you responsible for it?" She asked her voice soft and polite. The card displayed a young halfling woman holding s deformed infant by its ankle with letters spelling out "The Midwife" along the bottom of it.
From right behind she appeared to about the size one might expect considering her armor which was partially covered in the gold and scarlet fabrics sacred to the church of Sarenrae. She turned slightly as she stepped into the house letting the silver holy symbol worn around her neck to swing free.
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Velius arrives distractedly to the house dressed in simple if heavy duty clothes, the sound of his heavy boots marking his entrance into the room, at first glance it is easy for everyone to see that his mind was clearly per-occupied with something else. On seeing a few others there already, he seems to come out of his reverie and his manners return with a snap, greeting those already there. "Good morning, I'm Velius." he says in a soft voice.
On seeing that the other members received cards of their own, Velius took his card out. The front depicting a dwarf hard at work on at his forge. "A rather ominous way of getting a group together." Velius mused.
"I take you all got the second message on the card. The one..."" Velius paused, his eyes flicking to the scarring going up and down his arms. "The one about Gaedren."
Cassiel returns Emanuel's handshake. "Cassiel. Cassiel Hawke."
Out of all the arrivals today, Cassiel only recognizes the priestess, Katrina. She was always the more level-headed and sensible of the two--an ideal fit for a cleric of the Dawnflower. They studied under the same tutor, but once the other priests saw Cassiel struggling with the lessons, they placed him under the instruction of a different priest.
"Yeah. But I'm curious... how did our host know about us?" He sits at the table and digs out the basket of bread and wine beneath it.
"Ahem, I, uh, received a card as well and I cannot say that I know the author of the note" Alessio says as he is forced into the room by Velius's arrival. "I am Alessio" he says with a nervous tone in his voice.
Seeing Cassiel sit down and reach for the provisions he is struck with an idea. "Beware that the offerings are not poisoned. This could be a trap laid out to get all of us together and eliminate us all in a fell swoop."
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Velius shakes his head at the suggestion of poison "I don't think someone would go through that much trouble to get to us. It'd be easier and smarter to get at us alone."
Looking to Cassiel, Velius smiles "This is a fortune-teller's shop. She wouldn't likely be in business for long if she didn't have some skill of divination. Likely our shared...link...caught her attention."
"Or perhaps she simply keeps a sharp ear to the ground for s**t regarding Gaedren." Cassiel shrugs and takes a bite of bread. "Can't say I've ever put much stock in fortune-telling--I prefer to find out the consequences for my actions on my own."
"Yes, well, in any event, it is poor manners to invite guests and then leave them waiting for your arrival."
Alessio replies to Velius "You make a good point about the folly of gathering foes rather than attacking them singly."
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"I must say that I agree with Mr Velius that it seems unlikely that we have been gathered here just to be poisoned." Katrina said as she walked to on of the chairs slowly lowering herself into it. "I know it may be difficult to share but perhaps sharing our experience with this...man will clarify some things." she paused looking around the table and reached for a cup setting it in front of herself.
"For my part, I was an orphan and being young and impressionable I fell in with his group of children. I was a 'Little Lamm' for several years before finding a home with the faithful of Sarenrae. I had stolen a holy symbol and he found out that I had kept it from him. Needless to say it was unpleasant and I had to flee or possibly face worse."
Cassiel's eyes widen in surprise. He was never one to pry into the past of other acolytes, but he had no idea that one of his fellow students of Sarenrae used to suffer under Gaedren's thumb.
He remains silent, however, not entirely willing to volunteer information yet. The memory is still too painful...
Emmah...
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Velius listens closely to Katrina's tale with sympathy in his eyes. Until his turn came. Despite being a massive man when his turn to speak came, he seems to shrink into himself. "I...am clearly Ulfen." He said with a wave of his hand indicating his massive frame. "That was enough for him to spot me, to kidnap me from my parents in an attempt to sell me to a man whom I know now liked children far too much. I fought back...and in his rage." Velius finished by holding up his scarred arms and turning his head to show the scars across his chin.
"My father overreacted when he found me missing...the Hellknights killed him and chased my mother out of town." The look in Velius's eyes hardened. "I had forgotten about him after all these years. I thought him dead and gone...if I can get my hands on him now..."
Velius's muscular arms tensed as he cracked the joints of his hands.
as he listens to Katrina he begins fiddling with a small stone ring on his left hand, obviously uncomfortable.
my story is remarkably similar; however, though I escaped into the church of Erastil, my inclinations and aptitudes led me to serve the community in ways other than by joining the clergy.
"Lamm...stole something from me." My dignity, my reputation, my life! Alessio silently adds. "But how would this fortune-teller come to know of our individual grievances against him?"
I'm, uh, not so sure the how is as important as why us? you can't throw a copper in this town without hitting someone Lamm's wronged in one way or another. What do we have in common aside from Lamm and being gullible enough to come for a blind and anonymous summons?
Just as Emanuel poses his question, the door swings open. In the door frame stands an middle-aged Varisian woman, fairly attractive, with long dark hair. She smiles at everyone saying in a soft but clear voice, "Thank you for coming, my friends, and for putting up with my unconventional method of contacting you. I am Zellara." As she moves into her home, she draws from a hidden pocket, a deck of harrow cards, all that appear to be the matching deck from the cards that everyone found this morning.
"Please take a seat. We have much to discuss." Pausing a moment while everyone makes a decision on whether to stand or sit, the fortune-teller continues, "I have reason to remain hidden, you see- a terrible man, would see great harm done to me if he knew I was reaching out for help. This is a man you know, for he has done something terrible to each of you as well." As she speaks, the woman shuffles her deck with an ease an familiarity that makes it seem like the cards float and dance over her hands and the table.
"I speak, of course, of Gaedren Lamm, a man whose cruelty and capacity to destroy the lives of those he touches are matched only by his gift for avoiding reprisal." Pausing a moment, a flash of pain crosses the woman face before she continues, You see, a year ago his thieves stole this, my Harrow deck, from me. It is important to me, an heirloom passed down through a dozen generations, and also my sole means of support. When pickpockets stole it, my son, Eran, tracked them down. The thieves were in the employ of Geadren Lamm, and in reward for finding them, Gaedren murdered my son."
Pausing from shuffling her deck, Zellara takes a moment to steady herself. "I sought help from the Guard, but they turned me away. And so I asked around. I paid bribes. I consulted my Harrow deck for advice. And recently, I was rewarded-I found out where Gaedren dwells. He can be found in an old fishery north of here at Westpier 17, where he trains his abducted children to be pickpockets and counts his stolen treasures."
"And now, I need your help. I cannot hope to face this man on my own, and the Guard moves so slowly that if I were to go to them, Gaedren would certainly know of their coming well in advance. Even if they did arrest him - what guarantee would I have that he would be punished? This criminal has evaded the law for decades. But you know of these frustrations as well, for word on the street has it that Gaedren has wronged each of you, too. So there we are. It is time for him to pay." Slamming her deck down onto the table, Zellara looks expectantly at everyone gauging your reactions.
Cassiel remains seated as Zellara arrives. As she speaks, he bites his lip and looks down at the table. Cases like hers were always coming to the Guard for help... not unlike his own.
Emmah asked him for help, much like Zellara asked the Guard for help. It felt like a knife twisting in his gut.
Cassiel stands with a glare in his eye.
"I'll find him. And I'll see him finally brought to justice."
Initially, Alessio had decided to stand until his hostess was more forthcoming with information. However, her prowess with the Harrow Deck fascinated him and moved him to sit without even realizing it. The young witch took in her story with some suspicion but that was dissolved by her obvious pain on detailing the fate of her son.
For the first time since he entered Zellara's domicile, Alessio shows signs of anticipation, even eagerness. "Why are you unable to confront him yourself? While I am truly grateful for the opportunity to avenge myself, I would like to know this much."
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As everyone spoke Katrina found her eyes glancing over at the Paladin, a man she had met during their initial training and she sat pensive and listened to the others tell their relations to the vile Gaedren with a sympathetic ear.
When the door opened to the other room Katrina rose to her feet quickly out of respect to their host only lowering herself back into her seat when asked to do so and again listened quietly to yet another tale of woe brought on by Gaedren. With a soft sigh she spoke. "Truly, I am sorry for you loss. You have my most sincere sympathy for your loss." She paused for a moment looking around the table before continuing letting others voice their opinions before giving hers.
"I believe that it is not mere coincidence that you came across us in your search, but perhaps a hand guiding you. My faith compels me to believe that the Dawnflower would see this evil man confronted and be made to atone for his crimes. If the others are agreeable, I would see him brought to justice."
the man is a parasite, and, my personal feeling aside, needs to be put down
he looks around and sees growing conviction among the group, but he remains troubled
Zellara smiles and merely nods at the mostly supportive words, before speaking to address Alessio's concerns. "Gaedren has always been dangerous. He surrounds himself with others like him; those who would rather live a life off of the backs of children rather than try to make an honest living. I myself am not gifted in the way of combat. My talents lay more in the art of divination. That is what brought each of you to my attention." Patting her harrow deck Zellara takes a breath, before continuing.
"I cannot join you this task to defeat Gaedren, however, I can aid you, but only if you will let me." Drawing nine cards and placing them face down on the table in front of her, Zellara meets everyone's eye before proceeding, "Would you like your fortune told? This may help prepare you for the fight ahead."
Zelllara's skills with the Harrow Deck and her implied powers of divination left Alessio intrigued. Clearly, he abilities with the deck far surpass his own. Without hesitation he replies to her "I would be most grateful if you would favor me with a reading."
It in only after he has spoken that he realizes he is now sitting at her table.
Cassiel shrugs. "Oh, why not."
It's not like I have anything to lose from this, anyway.
not at all satisfied with the answer to his question, he reserves judgement until she demonstrates her...talent.
please, I'm very curious to see what knowledge the cards hold
Sweeping her hand over the nine cards set out in front of her, Zellara says, "Those who wish for a reading, please choose a card."
Cassiel scratches his head before looking at the middle card in the top row.
"Eh, one's as good as the other, I suppose." He says as he picks it up.
"Now what?"
Ever the narcissist, Alessio chooses the center card of the middle row.
selects the bottom most card on the left
As Vassiel flips over the center card in the middle row, he reveals the locksmith. Furrowing her brow, Zellara pauses for a moment before addressing him. "Ah, the locksmith. Your destiny is near at hand, however a powerful artifact will be needed to fully access your true potential, and stop a terrible force from ruling Korvosa with an iron grasp."
Turning to Velius as he flips over the rabbit prince, Zellara smiles, "Ah a fitting card for a monk. You will be tried in several tasks, and even though that it may seem impossible, your will shall see you through."
When Alessio snatches up the Crows, Zellara pauses a moment. "You were framed for a murder. However, when you prove yourself innocence, the city will not be as you remember it."
Watching as Emanuel flips over the avalanche Zellara's eyes grow wide. "Today will end in disaster for you. You will find yourself swept up in a mob that will only know chaos and calamity."
As Katrina reveals the demon's lantern, Zellara stare at the celric for a moment before revealing her fortune. "You will soon be tested. There will be something in this city that is a trap, not just for you, but for the people of Korvosa. The cards have tasked you with freeing Korvosa from this trap. Other than that, they will not say."
Cassiel looks at the Locksmith, not entirely reassured by the card's hooded figure. "I think I liked the Paladin better. It's more... 'me'." He quips, arching an eyebrow at the card.
Still, if there is something to this fortune-telling bulls**t, I might as well listen--it's the least I can do. And Eodred might not be the easiest king to get along with, but I never took him for a tyrant... even if he is willing to let Sarenrae and Asmodeus preach openly in the same town.
Emanuel's expression rapidly moves from shaken to incredulous to dismissive
I see... well, I agree that Lamm needs to be put out of Korvosa's misery, and I can't say I'd mind having a hand in it. I suggest we meet here early tomorrow evening, provided I'm able to after being swept up by a mob, with mistress Zellara's permission, of course, after we've had a chance to ponder this new information and do any research or preparation necessary for the task at hand.
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Katrina looked down at the demon's lantern as it turned over for her. She pondered what it could be but eventually decided there was little else that she could do in this instance. She was pulled from her reverie by Emanuel's words and took a second before replying.
"While research is indeed important, I feel we should consider acting sooner than tomorrow evening. Everyday that man is free to do as he pleases the more crimes he will commit and the more people he will harm. And if that weren't enough, he is still training children to do his bidding, children who I would not wish to remain in his care any longer than absolutely necessary. As someone who lived under those conditions and in my official capacity of a Priestess of Sarenrae, I feel striking quickly is in ours and Korvosa's best interest. "
"Yes, I agree that now is the time to make our move against the wretch. Who knows, his spies might even have sighted one of us here and that might spur him to move again."
Thoughts of dragging Lamm through the streets on a leash toward the Citadel fill Alessio's mind. Humiliation paid in kind he says to himself.
Right before you leave Zellara's home, she performs private readings for each of you.
”When you escaped Gaedren in the past, you had to trust in your wisdom to find the opportune moment, so that you could never fall back into his clutches again. You prospered, however Lamm did not. When you face him today he will not be the man you feared as a child. He will be older, weaker, but more cunning and poisonous. If Lamm survives, he will be successful in poisoning the minds of the courageous and virtuous and using them to systematically destroy every worshipper of the dawnflower. After that task done, he will turn them loose on the city to poison whatever is left. Good luck, my dear.”
As you sit in from of the harrower, Zellara takes the time to study your features silently, with a half smile before placing nine cards down on the table. Flipping them over, she reveals (from left to right, top card to bottom card) the crows, the vision, The brass dwarf, the sickness, the cricket, the carnival, The locksmith, the unicorn, and finally, the publican. Running her hands over the cards, furrows her brow before speaking.
”You met Gaedren because something was stolen. Wait, no. You were stolen away. When you escaped, you were unable to go back to your family.” Meeting Velius’s eyes, Zellara offers a comforting smile, ”Now, Gaedren seems to have grown his enterprise from kidnapping to poison. He is creating a poison for someone in this city. The cards cannot tell me who his employer is, but they can tell me that it is someone with political power. If you manage to defeat Gaedren, beware of relaxing your guard. You may enter a place where everything seems as it should, but that is when you need to be your most alert. That is all that I can tell you. Good luck.”
Zellara smiles pleasantly at Alessio while she shuffles her cards. ”It is not normal for someone with another harrow deck to grace my home. I hope my readings are to your liking.” As she speaks, the fortune teller places nine cards in a 3x3 grid. Flipping them over, she reveals (from left to right, top card to bottom card) The demon’s lantern, the forge, the rakshasa, the beating, the uprising, the eclispe, the wanderer, the idiot, and finally, the paladin
”Hmm.. The cards yet again show me that when you tangled with Lamm in the past, he pinned a murder on you. However, through that indiscretion, he has left you with an opportunity to grow more powerful than normal, if you had stayed in the Acadamae. You have survived until this point alone, licking your wounds. Now, you have comrades to help you regain your life from Lamm. I sense a rebirth is coming for you, and that soon you will be seen before the throne of Korvosa. Good luck, I look forward to seeing you grow.” Offering a kind smile, Zellara once again begins to shuffle her cards.
With obvious years of practice and talent, Zellara shuffles and places nine cards in a 3x3 grid. Flipping them over, she reveals (from left to right, top card to bottom card) The trumpet, the survivor, the inquisitor, the foreign trader, the teamster, the cyclone, the paladin, the lost, and finally, the dance. Before the fortune teller begins to speak, she offers a comforting smile.
”Emanuel, yes? I see that when you were younger you attempted to right a wrong, which led to your falling out with Lamm. Even though you were unsuccessful, you keep making strides to become a better person.” Pausing a moment, Zellara studies the cards once again before speaking, ”Now, Gaedren has replaced you with someone worse. This other person will be immensely foolish and greedy, but will also can be more cunning than they are normally given credit for. You are destined to cross paths with this person. Be careful, you will need to use all of your knowledge and tricks in order to defeat Gaedren. Do not be afraid to try something unorthodox, the results may pleasantly surprise you.” Gathering up her cards, Zellara wishes Emanuel the best.
Queitly, Zellara stuides Cassiel before placing nine cards down in a 3x3 grid. Flipping them over, she reveals (from left to right, top card to bottom card) the tangled brier,the teamster, the fiend, the Courtesan, the waxworks, the bear, the marriage, the big sky, and finally, the desert. As Zellara studies the spread, her brow furrows as look of sorrow flashes across her face.
”My condolences over your lost love. You more than anyone here know what vileness that Lamm is capable of. He killed your fiance, though you were searching for him before that. However, now it is this torment of losing her that is keeping you moving forward. This torment is for your own betterment, even if you cannot see it now, it is preparing you to face off against a great evil.” Tapping the fiend, Zellara frowns, ”The cards tell me that a great evil of unimaginable intelligence is lurking in Korvosa, waiting to strike. You will need to be on your guard.” Silently picking up her cards, Zellara wishes Cessiel good luck on his task.
Lamm’s hideout at Westpier 17 is a few streets to the north from Zellara’s home. You all are able to find it without too much difficulty, and without drawing the gaze of any of the other inhabitants of Korvosa. As you approach the front door of the warehouse, the stench of brine and week-dead fish hang tickly in the air here. The old double doors in the side of the old weathered building are tightly closed, with a drooping signpost hanging above. The sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusted chain. As you all approach, you can see an old dock going around the side of the building.
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Velius looks down at the chain keeping the door fastened shut. "I think we should look around the side. As quietly as we can. There's no way we can open this without making a lot of noise. Stay away from the windows too."
Velius moves as quietly as he can to the dock going around the side of the building and looks down the dock while attempting to stay hidden by the corner. If it's clear he'll wave the group over and investigate the door there after stooping to crawl under the window, hoping no one inside sees him go by.
He picks up his things and takes his leave.
As Velius goes scouting, Cassiel's hand tightens around the hilt of his scimitar. "Stay safe."
He looks over at the others. "You still want to hear why I'm after Lamm?"
you seem keen to tell it, and unless you're too long or too loud I doubt anyone will object says Emanual, downplaying his own desire for a distraction.
Alessio hesitates for a moment and then stiffly says "If you are comfortable revealing your reasons then the least that we could do is to lend our ears."