The Marukhati

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"Good, good!" The King continued. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come here!"

[Leyyuce]

Feather-Tail stepped forward as the King commanded, his gait deliberate and proud. His head remained unmoving as he walked; to look about would be unusual.

[Musicman247]

Nzuri watched the crowd, one hand on a dagger in case someone moved against Feather-Tail.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The Argonian noble who greeted them moved along with Feather-Tail, keeping close. A figure in a hooded green robe, a member of the Marukhati, also trailed the Argonian. Duchess Wulija, casting a final sneer at the Chosen, followed. It would be prudent to discover who was planning to kill the general before it was too late.

"We shall throw a feast upon my greatest general's return," Alzhei declared. "Wulija, a word, if you please." While the court broke down into small groups to continue talking, Queen Nelphine slipped away to follow Feather-Tail.

"I'll make sure the Duchess gives us proper credit," Singer whispered. "Try splitting up to see if you can see who wants to kill Vask."

[Musicman247]

Nzuri looked to the right of the room for anyone who seemed to be a little too serious.

[JVElEven]

"I'll tail that Marukhati slime," Siaenach whispered, slipping away from the group.

[Eltee]

"How about I just stay within a bowshot of Feather-Tail." Irri drawled, playing with her quiver. "Anyone who tries anything can try out being an Argonian-or anything else- pincushion."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Nzuri saw several possible suspects - the Argonian noble in black finery, the Marukhati agent trailing Feather-Tail, and Queen Nelphine herself, who was talking to a group of men.

[Musicman247]

Nzuri decided to follow Feather-Tail so she would be in a prime position when someone made move.

[Leyyuce]

Feather-Tail occupied a position of complete disadvantage, forced to rely entirely upon his unlikely comrades' senses and intuition rather than his own. Throughout his past encounters, no matter the odds or the impossibility of triumph, Feather-Tail had relied upon and taken for granted his ability to react and adapt as able; whether his efforts succeeded was a matter of his own talents and weaknesses rather than others'. Momentarily and perhaps fatally, that self-reliance and personal responsibility was meaningless.

Feather-Tail continued, his outward demeanor unchanged.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Feather-Tail suddenly felt a strong hand grab his shoulder and guide him away from the king. It was the Argonian in dark finery. "We must have a word, General..." He squinted into the eye slit in the helmet. "If that is who is behind the helmet."

[Eltee]

Irri reached a hand behind her head, as if to rub the back of her neck. Her dark fingers brushed the goose feathers that fletched the shafts of her arrows.

[Musicman247]

Nzuri's hand was still behind her back on the handle of her dagger as she followed Feather-Tail.

[The-Shadow-One]

Florian looked at Vask (Unknowning he's Feather-Tail really), then at Nzuri, and followed her, spinning his dagger with a smile. He wondered why Nzuri was following the two Argonians.

[Leyyuce]

"Don't insult me," Feather-Tail commanded, recoiling from his accuser. "Be short. What is it that you want?"

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"I want to protect you," The Argonian said. "I sent the note. Let's keep names off the table, suffice to say I am an important member of the King's court and I can already tell you aren't Vask because you don't recognize me. Somebody wants the King removed from power, and I can only think of one woman who might be behind it all. Wulija, the Duchess. She'll -" The noble saw Nzuri and Florian approaching and disappeared back into the crowd with impressive ease.

[Musicman247]

As Nzuri approached Feather-Tail she tried to see if she could tell which way the noble had gone.

"Did she try to harm you?" she asked her Argonian companion.

[Eltee]

Irri panicked and shot him in the neck.

[JVElEven]

Siaenach was still trying to stay on tail of the Marukhati member.

[Leyyuce]

"No," Feather-Tail insisted, "He may have been the only one sharing the answers which we need." He scanned the crowd as he spoke in an attempt to ascertain the note sender's location, his helmet surmounting the task's difficulty.

"Wulija- watch her closely. Though I'm unaware of this figure's credibility, he is certain that she is after the King's seat."

[Musicman247]

"If you are certain, I will take my leave of you and watch her instead," Nzuri said, continuing to scan the crowd.

[Leyyuce]

"The others have me," Feather-Tail agreed. "Make haste."

[Musicman247]

Nzuri departed quickly, heading in the direction she had seen Wulija go.

[Sav]

Ormis tried following after Siaenach, hoping that Nzuri and the others wouldn't have any trouble.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The Marukhati member was walking towards Wulija. The Duchess of Morrowind was blocked from view by his large figure and cloak, and they began moving together in the general direction of Feather-Tail. Someone bumped into Siaenach, throwing her off balance. Only when she regained it did she realize that whoever bumped her had stolen her dagger.