ROLEPLAY

               
The Matis took a seat on the other side of the table, pouring himself a glass of something that looked, from a distance, like wine. He took a mouthful and clicked his tongue on the palate.

"Eat, first."

Eeri did not need persuading. She took a large handful of dried meat, which she swallowed as dry as a gulp of shookie. The Matis' gaze rested for a moment on the vault of the cave, then he spoke again.

"I know you, without knowing you. And I owe you some explaining. Trytonists are tolerated here. It all depends on the Clans, we'll say. In any case, we are first and foremost Marauders, but we don't forget our convictions. Many of us come from the New Lands, some of us have always lived here. I knew you when you were just a young recruit. I remember the meeting we had, before we recruited you. You know how it is, the old guys always know who they're recruiting, and the young guys don't know the old guys who recruit them. But I've been gone for about twenty Jena years already."

Eeri listens to the Matis, gaping.

"... after the death of our leader. Scarlet Ocyx."
"Lopy..."
"Lopy, yes... It looked very bad for us then. The Fyros Empire had been chopping off heads, while before the Desert was still a safe place... His death was a sign that the Karavan had found his trail, and dared to act in the Empire's territory."
"Many thought that came from the Kingdom.
"The Kingdom and the Matis subjects are crazy, but not that crazy. They wouldn't have gone to such lengths out of simple revenge. Such a sudden death can only come from one of the Powers. A few of us elders decided to leave the New Lands after joining the Marauders. We thought we would find more answers."

Eeri puts down her tankard and the food she held in hand.

"I'm sorry," continues Arid. You probably didn't expect to hear about this here. I know you knew him well."
"I had a child by him... born after he disappeared... I was afraid, so I hid her. Well... I entrusted her, but the homina who was supposed to take care of her disappeared. I was afraid."
"It has been a major upheval for many of us."

After a few minutes of talking, Arid stood up and put down his glass of wine.

"Now try to eat and rest."
"Is this place safe?" Eeri asked.
"Yes. We have taken up our old habit of making hiding places here. It's also convenient, because of the kitins. There are many caves in The Citadel. If the Regent sends her goon to search for us, it will take them two days to rummage through it all."
"Who is?"
"The Regent. She runs The Citadel and helps the clans organize against the kitins."
"So she's the leader of the Marauders?"
"No, the Marauders have no leaders."
"I thought so, yes. Maybe she's the one who questioned me... Anyway. akep. Really."
"Don't thank me too quickly. I had to knock out and tie up one of the guards to free you. That means they'll be looking for you, as soon as they figure it out. Hopefully once your companion has departed."
"So they're letting him take the road to Coriolis?"
"Yes. Through the top of the ridge."
"They'll no doubt think I won't follow him. We are in angry at each other. But I will follow him."
"If that's what you want, you'll probably have little respite after he leaves. Anyway, in your case, staying at The Citadel would be suicide. Tomorrow morning I'll bring you another suit of armor, so you'll be more inconspicuous. Now I'm to leave you and join my clan, before my absence looks suspicious. Be ready at dawn."