[Day 6, Early Morning - Tea Room] A Private Word - CLOSED

[Rixy]

"Very well. Upon your word and the reputation of your House, we will accept your two lieutenants as suitable to offer council in this matter."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Then I believe we have arrived at a compromise," he replies with a bow.

[Rixy]

The gesture was returned and the young woman made very neat, concise amendments to the edicts before reseating them in the coffer and again presenting it to the Mantis captain. The old brahmin, watching with approval, turned his attention again to the Captain.

"It is my hope, and the hope of my illustrious Lord, that this unpleasantness will cause no true breach between our kingdoms. Is there ought else you would ask at this time?"

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

The coffer was accepted with a bow and handed off to a servant. "No, not at the moment," he replies with that easy smile, "The question, of course, is returned to you... is there something that you wish to ask of me?"

[Rixy]

"You are a man of the sea, a man of command, as you said."

The brahmin stared into his water again, as if hoping to divine something new in the depths than what he'd seen previously. When he spoke again, it was in heavily accented Rokugani, a thing that made the girl turn to him in surprise.

"I am sure you can read matters here, no matter what you attempted with the rest. Your Empire would not trust you with command if you were truly so blind." The man's odd gaze rose, seeking Umi's. "If your eyes, unblinded by love of the people, see what we have not, I should hope you would see fit to pass that on. I am an old, old man, and will leave this world for the next cycle soon regardless of the actions of the blasphemers...but I have kin, grandchildren, that I would wish to see the wonders I have seen before they move on. Even if what you see is the same doom I see, it is of use...I would know then to send them on myself instead of risking that She will consume them, their souls to be forever lost."

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant frowned slightly as Aravind spoke, but he kept his peace, it was not his place to speak in this exchange.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Your people are afraid, that is what I've seen," he replies evenly and looks thoughtful, "As to rest, I can't guess. The people of the Kingdom are reluctant to speak regarding what they have seen and what comes."

[Rixy]

"It is the old trouble, only She is stronger, though we do not know how." The old man's scowl, aided as it was by his wrinkles, was truly impressive. "When we drove the House of Rafiq down, we only sharpened their hate and determination. Now we reap the harvest of our inefficiency."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminiushi nods and rubs his chin, "That much I have guessed on my own, but it tells me little as to what and who is in Her army. The people of the Kingdom are wise, they would not fall for the same trick twice and give worship so freely... is their no one willing to speak on Her numbers and their tactics?"

[Rixy]

"Few have seen it to know and yet live to speak of it." The old man shook his head sadly. "Her Cult is very...thorough...in carrying out the doctrine of destruction. Scouts have been sent, yet none return."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"And the refugees know nothing...?" he asks with arched brows.

[Rixy]

"Most we have here fled in fear before destruction. They saw the smoke of the towns of their neighbors and fled before the doom could reach them. The omens say more come, however, and there is always hope that some will know more, or that our scouts will return at last."

Sipping his water again, the old one offered, "If your people wished to search in a safe way, it would be allowed."

[Jayant Utpal]

"If I may, honored one?" Jayant finally speaks up, glancing at Aravind, then over to Umi. He was the only survivor of the attack upon the last fleet of the Ivory Kingdoms, a former child of House Rafiq. It stood to reason that he at least knew some of what they now faced.

[Rixy]

"By all means..." The old man made a gesture of benediction.

[Jayant Utpal]

"Of there fleet, I can make only guesses. The day of the attack, a strange fog surrounded our ships that the brahmin could not clear from the sea. After that, perhaps as many as two dozen ships surrounded our fleet and attacked." Jayant's stance as he sat grew more rigid as he told the tale. "What came across the decks then was black fire. Though what we faced were mostly humans." Jayant suppressed a shudder. "Mostly. Asuras, animal headed demons, appeared out of the mist as well during the attack. Though none wore a Tiger's head."

"Before that, we had been skimming up the coast, heading back for Lanka and we crossed the line of the enemy army that approaches. It is a large army, built of metal, and black magic. There are beasts there that do not have faces, metal demons of great size. More animal headed demons fill out their ranks, with a spattering of still human servants. With a few war elephants still." Jayant sighed. "That is what we were hurrying here to report on."

None of this was new information for Aravind. Jayant had been certain to give a detailed report upon his arrival at the Palace. For Umi though, this was new information.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

... Uminushi listens intently and then, in the time honored tradition of sailors, curses colorfully. In both languages, though he was careful not to call on any Fortunes or gods. It would have almost been comical save for the seriousness with which he did it. The man runs a hand through his hair and tugs it before letting his hand drop, "Well. That certainly clears up a few things."

[Rixy]

The old man made a gesture of warding at the mention of the demons. "Indeed. Perhaps you now see the cause of our concern for dark magics weakening our tower?"

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

His chin comes to rest on a closed fist as he stares off to the side, elbow coming to rest on a knee. There were no smiles on the Mantis' face, his expression dark and brooding. He reviews his options, not caring whether or not the representatives of the Maharaja were able to see through the fool's act he had given them. Uminushi's other hand starts to tap against his thigh before he mutters to himself, "Well, Ponpo-kun... you did say my life would be interesting."

The smile was thin at first, but soon takes on that fox-like quality as he looks back at his 'guests'. There was a fire in his eyes, a promise of mischief that bode well for none.

"I have a proposal."

[Rixy]

"I had hoped so."

The old man smiled in turn and leaned in...

/scene