A Griffinhart-felt Counsel

The walk from the cells was quiet but Nygozy had expected no less with the company she was keeping. It wasn't like Kai would talk a lot and Griffinhart was just as cleverly quiet. Other people may have been put off and nervous with one of these men around them let alone two but Nygozy was used to such things. Dealing with a huffy Qunari who questioned your every move, a witch who hated everything and everyone for the most part until you'd proven your worth in her eyes, a master of story telling who sometimes did not like to stop story telling, a yackative bastard prince, so on and so forth made the woman just as pleased to have two quiet people around her.

She got to her rooms and walked about the meeting lounge with a sigh, "So what do you think, Griffinhart?"

Griffinhart did not speak immediately, as he was still considering everything he had heard. The first one, the one that had confessed everything - he was more than truthful. He had spoken too much. He had betrayed, and was willing to betray again to save his own neck. The other, who had raged and cursed and vowed a red-stained violence against the world - but more importantly, vowed to come back once his vengeance had been wreaked.

He did not know what to think, other than to think of what had been presented.

No, that was a lie. Griffinhart had more thoughts than that.

"The betrayer is to be believed. He sold out a man he barely knew for money. More than money is at risk now. Keep him alive, and hang the threat of death over his head." But there was more. Griffinhart was trying to figure the berserker into the equation. "The berserker was loud enough that the betrayer knows his betrayal has been revealed. Use one against the other, and both against this 'Lorek'."

The warrior looked up from the floor, out of his musings, and the words sharpened in his mind. Here was something he could make a work with. "I imagine you wish to reach the root of this plot concerning the healer. Promise the betrayer his release, contingent upon the completion of a goal related to his knowledge and this 'Lorek'. Promise the berserker a blood-bath related to the same goal. At mission's completion, bring the berserker back, and release the betrayer. He wanted to 'chase him down like a nug and gut him'; let him have his chase. You will not have betrayed either party."

And yet, there was still one last detail. Security. "Use me as insurance. A failsafe. If the berserker tries to escape us, I will end him."

An index finger rubbed across her lower lip as Griffinhart spoke and Nygozy listened intently to his words. The man had some good ideas and it all fit together rather well, especially with her weapon indicating that he would kill them if they so much as stepped out of line. It was expected. She'd seen him in action when she had originally tried to meet with Alistair and had found him rather impressive.

She looked out a window for a moment then walked back over to Griffinhart while tapping her finger on her bottom lip now, taking everything into consideration as she did so.

"You confirm what I was thinking and have come up with some details I had not yet worked through." The woman nodded as she worked out other things in her mind, "I believe this is the best plan that we can go with to find an optimum solution. However, if the berserker does come back it may well be good to consider him for other things as one with such a strong sense of honour and pride can be of use. Would this be your belief as well?"

"Honor and pride are... powerful things," spoke Griffinhart, his words hinting at more than a simple summary. As if he knew something of honor and pride - but his tone did not elaborate, nor was this the proper time for such an elaboration. "I do not know if the berserker has either. I have only been present for your interrogation of him. But if he has indicated otherwise to others, then it is possible to use his honor and pride against him. Convince him that he somehow owes a debt to us; his words previous did indicate that he repays all debts in full."

Griffinhart paused. This was a risky road they now trod; at least the Warden-Commander had the clarity of mind and forethought to consider the action before committing - think, before you act. "But trickery and betrayal will earn us nothing. I do not know his sort of honor or pride. He may not believe that he owes us anything beyond a killing. Perhaps nothing more than his death."

"That is a good point. We know nothing of this man's belief system and the few things we have knowledge of with this man but I prefer to see in action rather than words. Yet, from what Calliara had said when she first met the beserker, it seems that he does have some honour considering that if this Maghai, brother to our healer, is as irritating as indicated then the man would have had every chance to kill that irritant long ago but he had given his word to help find Jezarine and that he did. We must see if he has further values."

The commander brushed her thumb over her chin as she worked things out. This would be a tender assignment which she wanted done in such a way that they were not doing any form of trickery. She hated round about plans which deceived others and preferred not to use any such things unless absolutely required. At this point, it was not.

"For the one who knew nothing, I believe that he should receive the same choices as the others. If he will help he should be released, if not we can consider other options to show his good faith." Nygozy was not one to deny a chance for one who may have only been a pawn.

"I do not wish to trick anyone into decisions in which they can view as a trick later on. Anything in that manner would be done up front and with indication of good cause. However; he does owe Jezarine and that he will pay on." She gazed out the window to consider further options, "I would have you bring at least one other with you for this mission. Just in case it becomes an ambush ... as trusting would be folly. I leave the decision of whom the person or persons are for aid to you. Have you any requests for any to work with you at the moment or do you need time to consider this?"

This was an unexpected turn of events. The Warden-Commander had just said that trust was a folly, and now she expected Griffinhart to trust someone else? He hesitated on his answer, thinking deep and hard.

He was most familiar with Pentaghast - the man had treated him with a distrusting wariness at first, but lately, the Nevarran was making attempts at... what? Friendliness? Griffinhart did not need a friend. He needed someone willing to kill at his behest. Someone who would put the mission before others.

The white-haired elf - Calliara? had come up with a good plan for stopping the imposter guards. At the same time, she had hesitated when she had to order three Wardens to fight - possibly to their deaths - in the hallways of the castle. Further, she had some sort of familiarity with the berserker. She was not a good choice.

Caelestis, the Antivan assassin, would not be able to stop a berserker in his rage with her daggers. But, on the other hand, she could slit throats with a quick deftness... if those throats were bare. No; they were walking into a bloodbath with a berserker. There would not be bare throats. Not for long.

Others, what others did he knew?

The Storyteller? She was infinitely competent with her magic... terrifyingly so. She... unsettled him. And when she had unleashed her power in the castle, he had wanted to gut her - or himself. To make the pain stop. She brought out a pain that he had never felt, but only remembered. She... no. She was a distraction. And emotional. No.

The qunari was right out; he was a pacifist.

Finally, Griffinhart spoke.

"Of your people that I know, Calliara has familiarity with the berserker. Caelestis's skills are not suited to a mass killing. Sophia is skilled, but she is too emotional... and a distraction. The qunari is a pacifist. None of these people are suitable. Pentaghast is a skilled warrior, but he has concerned himself too much with... trying to be... trusted. With me."

The swordsman paused for a moment, thinking once more. "Pair me with someone who does not know me, and values you and your objectives more than my life. More than their own life, ideally. Failing that, Pentaghast will do better than anyone that I do know."

Interesting. One crux down, "You do not wish for someone to trust you or believe they can be trusted by you." She stated calmly after he completed his decision making, "I don't blame you. Trust is a difficult thing to obtain because betrayal can come from anywhere. I need to be able to keep a certain amount of trust with others. It is never complete. That mistake can always haunt a person."

She poured herself a glass of water and put the pitcher down as she drank a bit, "There is one of my group whom I have used for this form of thing. He trusts little to nothing, depending upon the circumstances, and would die for what he believes in but a moment but not without a vicious fight. With you he could probably go all out whereas he limits his skills around most others."

Silken curtains moved in the breeze so Nygozy went to the window to close it but Kai made it there before her and she turned back to the dark warden, "I believe you and Drake would work well together. He asks for no trust and requests none in return. He only expects those he is with to do their job. He can follow or lead as one wishes."

Nygozy waited for a moment then spoke once more, "I wished to ask of you one more thing. Drake is the one I go to for unemotional counsel in all things civilian but I do require one for counsel in warden issues as well. Calliara is my second in many matters but one who is not affected by emotional stimulae, or minimally so, is required. You said to use you as a weapon. This may be no physical weapon but I would like you to be the one for this as you look past emotion and can reason upon fact only."

"If you believe that I and Drake can be trusted with this mission, then it will be trusted to us." The swordsman, who had cut out his heart long ago, nodded assent to both her decision and her question. "Weisshaupt Fortress had many Wardens to give advice. You do not. I will give counsel as you ask for it, Commander." True to his taciturn nature, Griffinhart would not volunteer unwanted advice; instead he would answer when asked - or when there was a dire need.

There was to be killing soon - not defensive, not reactive, as had been the case for the past days. Now he was being sent on a hunt. True, it was terrain unfamiliar - no longer was he on the wide, empty steppes of the Anderfels; here, the land bustled with life. The killing would be of a different sort - not entirely in his hands, either. But that was meaningless, Griffinhart knew. Killing was killing. Death was death. As long as he held true to his oaths, that was all that mattered.

The warrior stood in his stolid silence and awaited the Commander's orders.

"Very well. Thank you for accepting both the mission and the position of counselor." She sat down on the couch and wiggled her feet about to get out the tension, "The mission will begin within a couple of days. I will inform you of this when I have set it up. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, I will require you to escort each of the kidnappers to my quarters so I can speak with them about what I wish for them to do. I do not care which you choose first. Have a couple of guards come along for image."

Nygozy lay back against the cushions, "In the meantime, supper is close at hand and you must require nourishment. You are dismissed until your duties tomorrow morning."

-----

The desk in the main room had papers upon papers in a pile and Nygozy sat at her desk looking at it with a frown, "Did these multiply over night, Kai?"

The assassin smirked as she poked the pile with a fork, "Your king called it paper bunnies."

"Yeh well the king can eat his 'paper bunnies' for all I care right now. Kmph. It can wait until after breakfast and tea. And if anyone decides they want to try to bring me any more," She looked at him meaningfully.

"If you continue to request that I kill those whom knock upon your door then there shall be none left to kill, hero."

She pointed the fork at him, "That is precisely the point!" Which was when there was a knock on the door, "It is probably more bunny paper or Griffinhart with a fire pit. Please let the man have a fire pit! Come in!" She called.

The door opened and Rakot entered the room, lead by two guards. The berserker's hands were bound to his chest with chains. One of the guards stepped forward and bowed to the Commander.

"Forgive us, Commander, we didn't know what to do with this one. He demanded that we let him see you...then started pounding the wall with his fists, we wouldn't mind except that he made a hole through it and went into the next cell. We were under orders not to use deadly means against him at this time, so it was decided by our captain that we are too oblige the prisoner's request. He calmed down rather fast, and let us put chains on him without any resistance. I have a dozen armed guards posted outside this room should he attempt anything. Once again Commander, I ask your forgiveness."

The entrance of Rakot and the soldiers was a surprise as Nygozy had expected Griffinhart to be the one to enter with the man but here they were, no Griffinhart and the berserker trussed up nicely. At first she thought it was due to their fear of the warden but after the explanation she realized this was not so.

"That is understandable. Please, remove the chains," She glared back at Kai for poking her then turned her attention back to the soldiers, "Remove the chains. If he had wished to escape he would have done so before now."

"But ... commander what if he actually wished to kill you?"

Nygozy shrugged, "If he wished to kill me he would have already attempted such a thing. Now, let him free so we can speak amiably."

The guard shook his head but took off the shackles and stepped back.

"Now, you can go inform Griffinhart that he may come to my rooms when he is ready. It is no hurry but explain to him the situation." The men left hesitantly, hoping she was right as the king would have their heads if she were not, and Nygozy tossed an apple to Rakot, "You are a rather anxious person this morning."

"Anxious? You could call it that. I'm not one to patiently wait for the summons, then there is so much killing to be done. Also...Tendir was nearby, he didn't make a sound but I could smell him, made it rather difficult to control my rage."

Rakot cracked his knuckles, they were blooded and bruised from smashing at the stone wall.

"So, Warden Commander, have you made a decision? What of my proposal? Will you take my promise to return and release me to slaughter those dogs, or am I going to have to break out of here through force to reach my goal?"

"Wipe your knuckles with that cloth on the table." She ordered after he spoke and stood to walk towards him. She stopped just in front of him and faced him directly, making sure he could see that she was not one to mess around with. It was a challenge, surely, and one she was not about to back down on.

"This nugfucker is wanted." Nygozy stated directly with a sneer, "As is this Tevinter who wanted our healer in the first place. Personally, I want them taken out, as a commander I need them destroyed so that people will not figure that they can get one over on the Grey Wardens of Fereldan. No one sets a hit on my people and will get away with it."

Her chin lifted, "However, you going after this bronto burger to destroy only his crew will not take out the Tevinter. Or bring him to my tender mercies." She smiled widely, one in which was no happy smile but one full of future visciousness, "So we will take them both out at the same time with your original quarry. Sort of."

"Fair enough, I'm not a big fan of Tevinters myself, and they do make this funny, squishy sound then my maul shatters their ribcage. I won't oppose this change of plans....only thing is....it will be rather difficult getting them in the same spot. From the way we were supposed to hand off your healer, it is quite possible that the Tevinter never shown his face to Lorek."

Rakot grabbed the cloth from the table and wiped his knuckles.

"However, from what I know of Tevinters, they are arrogant sons of bitches. I doubt his desire to have that elven girl in his possession has diminished. We could use her as bait, to attract the Tevinter, and perhaps even Lorek, he still did not get his gold. All we would need would be to spread misinformation along the right channels. Me and Tendir are too recognizable, a story involving our daring escape from captivity wouldn't fly. Lorek's men saw us dragged through the streets, and new it was us. However Lorek never heard of Ostef, who was hired on my orders. What if we say that Ostef is still free and has the girl? That story they may believe. We'll then contact Lorek through the channels on Ostef's behalf and set up a meet. And also contact the Tevinter mage, saying that we want to eliminate the middleman from the transaction and exchange the girl for all the gold he was willing to offer Lorek. We get them all in one place, and then I will kill them all. Don't worry, your healer doesn't need to be physically involved in any of this."

Nygozy chuckled as she dropped down to the couch and caught a piece of cheese Kai tossed to her. She nibbled the food as her bodyguard brought over the plate of snackables and stood to her side, glaring at Rakot as he put his arms over his chest.

"My team did not consider the consequences of dragging you through the streets as they were rather pissed off with you taking Jez. Taking Jezarine was like beating a puppy for looking at you and it riled up the hornet's nest enough that they did not care to keep you alive for anything else."

She put her feet up while checking out the cheese, "However, I like the way you think when it comes to subterfuge and your plan sounds workable, but it will be done with two of my people."

The cheese disappeared and the Dwarven woman relaxed as she ate it, "These two are easy to deal with but I would suggest not doing anything they may not trust. And you will be getting the hostage to use as bait."

[OOC: Sorry for the lateness. I had a linear algebra midterm to deal with this morning.]

The black cloak traced a shadow through the air as Griffinhart moved, his surety of motion swift and without pause. The Commander trusted the berserker too much; it was one thing to grant an audience to a prisoner at the drop of a pin, another thing to unbind the prisoner in your presence. There were ways to show off confidence without showing off stupidity and weakness-

But he did not voice these things when the guards had come for him. He did not voice a single thing at the summons; he only rose from his seat on the floor of the cold, empty room he had been silently meditating in, and dressed, and left. And he would not voice these things to the Warden-Commander; perhaps she had good reasons, reasons hidden from him and from everyone else, for what she had done.

The warrior hoped so, at least, as he knocked on the door to her room, catching the last muffled sounds of the plotting. Something about bait, a hostage. Inwardly, Griffinhart grimaced; he had not discounted such a possibility, but had hoped against it. Hostage situations were always messy, no matter which side of the hostage you were on. Moreso for Griffinhart, who was not attuned to - or trained for - negotiations and not killing people immediately.

Not that he hadn't prepared himself for such things long ago - that was the mark of a good warrior. Always prepared.

((OOC: Not a problem. Real life always comes first!))

"Come." Nygozy called out as there was a knock on it, "Ah yes, Griffinhart. It seems that Rakot did not wish to wait until he was called."

In a second she was standing, removed a knife from a spot under the cushions and had thrown it at the wall right beside a man's head along with another knife which came from Kai, both at the same time.

Said man grinned at her while putting his hands up in the air, "Keeping you on your toes is my job, my commander." Zevran chuckled as he removed the knives from the wall, "Zat comes close to murder, you know, my pretty. It took off some of my lovely locks. Are you ready for me to set up the meeting?"

Kai growled as Nygozy rolled her eyes, "Be glad we knew it was you, Zev. Just make sure your toy is kept cold. I do not wish for it to smell up the room before the Arl even gets to speak."

Zevran put the knives on the desk as he went towards them then smiled as he passed the men and left.

Nygozy waited until the door was closed, "As I was going to say, Griffinhart is one of the people who will be working with you. You do not want to make a wrong move around him. Now. Are you capable of doing this job without killing your unloved kinsmen until this job is complete, Rakot?"

"Tendir? Tendir isn't my kin, he is trash. If this gets me to Lorek, I'll do my best, but I can't promise anything on that, my hand might slip. As for your tin can friend over there..."

Rakot pointed at Griffinhart.

"...I so far have no reason to be impressed. That shapeshifting dragon thing I fought in the woods, that was impressive, and I'll gladly have another crack at it one day. But keep your warnings, Warden, I am not doing this out of fear of you, nor any of your wacky band of misfits. I am doing this because I've been wronged and I will see the culprit pay in blood. Now give me my maul, and tell me there I am going to start swinging it, I need nothing else to get this done."

"If your hand slips, I will take it from you," impassively stated Griffinhart. His ragged black cloak drawn around him, immotile helmet locked into place, the swordsman was a statue chiseled from shadows as he awaited the Warden-Commander's orders. He had heard the berserker's words, and was neither perturbed nor impressed. Any warrior lost in rage had already given up half the fight; they relied on brute strength to win the battle. And perhaps they would win the battle, but never the war. Fight smarter, not harder, was the lesson he had learned.

Rakot would be easy enough to kill. Distance, and fire. Perhaps ice. Distance was all Griffinhart would need, and that was easy enough to get. The Fade would speed his legs as easily as it sped his arms. Failing that, he would only need to be faster still. A maul took time to swing. And limbs. Limbs were the critical thing to a swing.

But no, they would be giving the berserker some armor, Griffinhart presumed. Otherwise he would not last long. No matter; the warrior would - could - improvise. Such was a weapon master.

Rakot grinned.

"You got a mouth on you, rusty. A few more empty threats like that and you better be concerned with my hand slipping in your direction. Just stand there, quietly, and pretend to look stoic, you seem to be good at that."

He turned back to face Nygozy.

"Don't believe my word about returning to you, so you're sending this one and another with daggers pointed at my back? Well...I can't say I don't understand there you're coming from, but I hope your men are clever enough to not get in between me and my prey."

Her smile did not slip as the two men spoke at each other, she could not consider such a conversation to be to each other, but she did not interfere with it yet. These two would have to work together but whether it was amiably or not was between them to decide.

The call of a hawk caught her attention and she looked to the window with a smile then back at the men, "Whether you are impressed or not with the people I have working for me is not my concern or care. Whether you fear or respect any of us once again is useless as we are using you as a tool just as you are using us."

Nygozy stepped forward, her eyes now narrowed, a slight growl of a grin upon her face as she looked directly into Rakot's eyes, "All we need to know is that we are going to be working together to reach an end to this issue which we both require dealt with for our own reasons. My people are going with you to make sure that our interests are completed, and that means to obtain that Tevinter bastard. You can kill all the rest for all I care, as long as they are not innocents such as family members or bystanders."

She gave a slight nod towards Griffinhart, "You will work with my people, Rakot. You will work with that piece of nug dung who set you up in the first place. You will get your revenge and we will get our information. Once this mission is over then whatever happens to Tendir is not our concern and he knows this. However, you will return because you owe one further thing which would conclude your quest to retrieve your honour."

"Good to know we're on the same page, Warden. Seems its time for me to return to my cell. I'd do it on my own, but then your guards may start feeling unappreciated, and we wouldn't want that."

Rakot remarked sarcastically, picked up the chains from the floor, shackled his own wrists, turned around and approached the door.

"You are being moved to a better cell." Nygozy pointed out as she walked towards the window, "We need you at a good level for the mission tomorrow."

She looked out the window, not concerned about Rakot as she had both Kai and Griffinhart there plus Torture was lying just inside her bedroom just out of sight, the door open. There wasn't much that could become a danger to her with those three guarding her plus her own abilities put in the mix.

The sky was a soft colour and it seemed to be a good day outside. She would have to go out for a bit in order to calm her mind before her noon meeting but for now she waited for Rakot to leave and to hear his footsteps going away with those of the guards.

"What do you think, Griffinhart?" She asked calmly while listening to the birds chirping away.

[OOC: Blrrghgdblefbh discrete math midterm and Touhou Teatime meeting was today (well, yesterday as of now).]

"I have not seen him in battle, and do not know how well he will perform." The Anderfels Warden was all business; he had not cared (or perhaps not noticed, but he did not seem the sort to not notice anything) a whit for Rakot's arrogant words. "I have seen Wardens more proud than him die just as easily as any other mortal. If he steps out of line, he will be dealt with."

But more important than Rakot was the mission, and how they were to prepare for it. "You walk a fine line, Warden-Commander. You must give Rakot proper equipment for battle, but not enough that he becomes a meaningful threat to the mission if he chooses to betray you. Further, he must strike a fine balance in his killing and rage; too much too quick and he will be exhausted and useless in battle. Too little too slow and he will be overwhelmed - or mistaken for betrayer."

Griffinhart paused for a moment, hesitating - not wondering if he should dare breach the topic, but how to breach it. "Also, Commander. Bait? A hostage?" Again, a moment of hesitation. "How tantamount is their safety to the mission? If I have to choose between saving the hostage's life or completing the mission - or killing Rakot - what do I prioritize?" This was not a question he normally asked. In his experience, the mission had always taken precedence.

But this was a new Commander, and she could have different priorities. Griffinhart had to establish those priorities before they became important factors.

"Yes he is quite ... proud and somewhat obnoxious in his attitude." She chirped out the window and waited a moment. When there was a responding sound she walked away from the portal and rolled her shoulders, "When it comes to battle though, I believe in Drake's word. Rakot can fight and fight well but I agree there is a chance of him not using his skills to the best of his capabilities due to his own personal considerations. That can be dangerous and it is risky business but one cannot gain without some risk."

Nygozy rubbed her chin, breathed deep then let the air out slowly, "One of the reasons I have chosen you for this mission is because you are one to look out for betrayal and will never trust anyone completely. That is greatly required for this. Also, you will not allow emotion to rule your actions or motivation. I do not dare expect everything to go well. I hope for it but wish to stay realistic. It is why I've been testing that man, to see what I may expect from him."

There was a knock on the door and Jezarine popped her head in, "You wanted me?" She shyly came into the room and closed the door behind herself, her big brown eyes on Griffinhart as if she were unsure of what to do around the man.

"As for bait ... Jezarine is very important to us. So is this mission."

Jezarine turned her head to look at Nygozy, worry in her eyes, "Ah ... bait?"