Case studies [Open]

[theprophet]

Tarrant strode along the bank of the River, eyes trained on the invisible, delicate web of power that stretched out even to this remote location. He picked out eddies in the flow, interpreting minute fluctuations as an animal might discern a faint scent in the air or vibrations along the ground.

There was life here, yes. And the river should provide adequate housing and space. Combined with the equipment in the Castle, supplemented with supplies from the various shore leave planets...

He pulled out his datapad, slender fingers dancing along the screen -- rapidly charting out the flow of the water, the depth, the amount of shade. Yes, this might do quite nicely.

Comments

[theprophet]

"Interesting." And rather frustrating that it wasn't common knowledge. What he could have accomplished in all this time -- !

"And how did you manage to get yourself into this area? Walking through walls, you said?"

[on_errantry]

"Yes," Rhiow said, switching back to normal speech now that her lunch was done with. "I just ask the molecules in the wall to space themselves out a little so that they're more air than wall, and then I walk right through it. Usually I'm also sidled - just to the left of physical reality. Laymen call it 'invisibility' but really it's stepping into subreality. Just like my telepathy isn't really telepathy, it's a switch into a different dialect of Speech."

She had the feeling that Tarrant was not a layman in any sense of the word.

[theprophet]

"I see. A unique skillset, then. Or at least no one else I've met yet aboard this ship has mentioned having similar abilities." Worth noting for later, perhaps.

"Is that all the Daligig have mentioned thus far?"

[on_errantry]

"So far, that's all I've managed to pick up. Even when they don't think it's possible for them to be overheard, they're excessively careful. I'm not going to stop following them until they leave - of course that means I may be scarce around the ship. I can't let them see me speaking with any of the crew, or they'll realize they've been tricked. I can't imagine they'll react well."

The last thing she wanted was to destroy her cover after so many weeks carefully building it. "Of course that means I'll rely on you and the other Councilors to communicate with the crew until they're gone. I'm afraid that for now, my position as chairperson is purely ceremonial."

[theprophet]

"I plan to do my job," Tarrant said smoothly. "Just as I'm sure the other councilmembers plan to do theirs."

Well. That had been a bit of disappointing news, but at least they'd been able to obtain some kind of information on the Daligig's movements. Better than nothing.

And if the Daligig were in fact leaving soon, that left him a window of opportunity. Time to deliberate on what exactly should be done with it. He gave Rhiow a courteous bow. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I should be getting back to my survey."

[on_errantry]

"Of course," Rhiow said. "I'll keep you updated to the best of my ability, and if I learn anything material you'll be among the first to know."

Perhaps not the first to know. Kang had that honor.

"I've been here too long anyway. Even if they don't come to the City often, I shouldn't stay in one place long." She tilted her head for a moment, composing a spell in her mind and holding there save for the activation. "I look forward to working with you," she said, and then activated the spell. She vanished abruptly with a soft whump as air rushed into the vacuum she created when she transported away.