[A curious response and one that warrants a baffled tilt of the head.
Ze is not quite sure what to make of that, for the stranger makes it sound as though he has no desire to be here when, seemingly, there are few who can force him to be where he won’t. So why then does he make it seem as if his presence here on the outskirts of the capital is a task? Surely it cannot be to watch him. Some ill-contrived notion of a spy or a bodyguard- not with those adulations.
A test, mayhap. He is forced to consider as the man marches a bit further away, seemingly content to speak on whether or not Ze will listen. A bit of an older royal, that’s for certain, with wrinkles and shadows to proclaim a life full of experiences. Briefly, Ze wonders if he is fit to even be out with the sun dipping below the horizon.]
I am prepared should that be the case. [Is his withdrawn answer as he flicks his gaze to their surroundings once more as he realizes he must make a choice. There are 3 possibilities before him:
The first, that the man is merely that unusual to take a stroll on the very fringes of his family’s territory for the sake of it. Between Varis and Zenos (the actual one,) Ze cannot find it within himself to disregard the possibility. The Garlean royal family is... odd.
The second, it is the very trap he had envisioned. The man is here for a form of violence and has brought with him the means to commit it, though Ze has yet to pinpoint the exact method. It would not be unusual- he is not wholly familiar with Garlemald’s technology and it would not be unheard of for it to get the best of him. Some literal trap to be lured into, one that would incapacitate or render him helpless.
And the third- a political scheme. If the old man is of import- a sire or grandsire to someone notable and he perishes tonight with Ze as his last encounter, it would only spell trouble for the alliance. A means to both end the truce and see him “rightfully” imprisoned. Such underhanded tactics are no stranger to the Empire, after all, for he has not well forgotten Asahi’s ill-attempts and the cold-blooded use of his family to achieve his goals.
Obviously the second and third are of the most concern. If he vanishes, the Empire can claim he ran and resume the war. If he is accused of assassination, it ends much the same.
...he sighs. He hates this.]
‘tis getting late. If naps are your inclination, you are truly in the wrong spot for it. [He makes to follow, boots crunching in the snow as he draws his hood back up to cover the sensitive tips of his ears.]
no subject
Ze is not quite sure what to make of that, for the stranger makes it sound as though he has no desire to be here when, seemingly, there are few who can force him to be where he won’t. So why then does he make it seem as if his presence here on the outskirts of the capital is a task? Surely it cannot be to watch him. Some ill-contrived notion of a spy or a bodyguard- not with those adulations.
A test, mayhap. He is forced to consider as the man marches a bit further away, seemingly content to speak on whether or not Ze will listen. A bit of an older royal, that’s for certain, with wrinkles and shadows to proclaim a life full of experiences. Briefly, Ze wonders if he is fit to even be out with the sun dipping below the horizon.]
I am prepared should that be the case. [Is his withdrawn answer as he flicks his gaze to their surroundings once more as he realizes he must make a choice. There are 3 possibilities before him:
The first, that the man is merely that unusual to take a stroll on the very fringes of his family’s territory for the sake of it. Between Varis and Zenos (the actual one,) Ze cannot find it within himself to disregard the possibility. The Garlean royal family is... odd.
The second, it is the very trap he had envisioned. The man is here for a form of violence and has brought with him the means to commit it, though Ze has yet to pinpoint the exact method. It would not be unusual- he is not wholly familiar with Garlemald’s technology and it would not be unheard of for it to get the best of him. Some literal trap to be lured into, one that would incapacitate or render him helpless.
And the third- a political scheme. If the old man is of import- a sire or grandsire to someone notable and he perishes tonight with Ze as his last encounter, it would only spell trouble for the alliance. A means to both end the truce and see him “rightfully” imprisoned. Such underhanded tactics are no stranger to the Empire, after all, for he has not well forgotten Asahi’s ill-attempts and the cold-blooded use of his family to achieve his goals.
Obviously the second and third are of the most concern. If he vanishes, the Empire can claim he ran and resume the war. If he is accused of assassination, it ends much the same.
...he sighs. He hates this.]
‘tis getting late. If naps are your inclination, you are truly in the wrong spot for it. [He makes to follow, boots crunching in the snow as he draws his hood back up to cover the sensitive tips of his ears.]