Expedition Private The Urk Expedition: A Chat Between Foxes

[Talinn Ryalor]

Set after The Quill and the Straightedge.

The temporary Captain of the Hide lay in his bed, where he would spend most of the return journey, as even sitting in a chair proved too much for the old, wounded fox. He was alive through the efforts of Barrett, Darragh, Finnian, and the precious vial whose high cost only he truly knew, but he still looked like a shadow of the beast that had been leading them before Urk. He turned his head to look at the endless sea illuminated by the mid-afternoon sun, and stared at it for some time, before returning to look at the papers sprawled across his bed in an uncharacteristically disorganized mess. Reports from across the Imperium, his own Ministry, and other things. What he had said in the...afterlife...to his various visitors had been true. He would never be allowed to rest, not really, for the remainder of his life.

A formal knock at the door.

Talinn sighed, painfully wincing as the air forced its way down his chest, feeling like somebeast had set it on fire, before he was able to recover. The aftereffects of his treatment would linger for a long time, if not for the rest of his life. A bitter bargain to buy more time from the Kitsune. Reaching over to the lever near the side of his bed, he pulled it once, indicating that the beast summoned could come in, as his voice was too weak to do more than whisper painfully.​

Nashirou...what have you been playing with?​

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii expected somewhat to be sooner or later summoned. There were way too many matters to discuss between him and his benefactor and Kaii probably as one of the few beasts on the Hide could understand the drive that allowed the Minister to survive such grievous wounds. Of course medical attention and the wondrous concoctions were what physically saved him, but Kaii more than anyone knew how much will mattered in survival. While he wasn't worried at all, he didn't expect for his summons to come so soon.

And he did not expect for them to be so... hasty.

The Marine who took him here only wasn't physically dragging him along because Kaii's gaze was far too cold to withstand. Still, he walked willingly, ignoring the lingering pain. Now he was in front of the doors to where the Minister have rested.

An elaborate knock later, one that Kaii reminded himself of from the much easier past, the Marble Fox was granted the permission to get in. As soon as he closed the doors behind him, he let the breath out to soften the pressure inside his chest and gave a full bow to the minister. One that hurt, but in order to respect the heavily wounded fox in front of him, Kaii didn't even show a sign of it. Instead he hold the pose for just enough to make sure it wasn't disrespectful before raising himself up, taking a breath and finally speaking.

"Your Grace, I am content seeing as you are on your way to recover. To what do I owe this honour of speaking to you despite your current state?" Kaii's inquiry was underlined with curiousity, albeit he well knew it was most likely about the Idol. He of course knew there was no formal rule that did not allow for him nor anyone to touch it, but he didn't want to already risk annoying the beast who was still close to the death's door.

 

[Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn studied the marble fox for a moment, mildly surprised he was looking so relatively spry after his own injuries, or was able to maintain appearances even if he still felt the pain from them. He knew the other todd had been wounded in the battle, although among the many other affairs he had to pay attention and his own recovery, he had not been able to ascertain how badly. Ah, to have one’s youth still, though, to have something of the invincibility that youth brought. He wondered if the younger todd truly appreciated how valuable that was as he beckoned him to come closer, inclining his head towards the chair at his bedside. It was still too much of an effort for him to speak in a normal tone.

When the other fox had sat down next to him, Talinn spoke, barely above a whisper, trying to hide the pain in his voice.

“Gentlebeast Nashirou...I see...your recovery has been going well…” he began “...and I have heard reports of your ingenuity with the traps...and...bravery. I heard you...killed more than a few shrews...and helped to take out a particularly monstrous one…”

He paused to prevent himself from wheezing, then gathered the strength for a few more words.

“...Your valor...is to be commended...worthy of your House...did you...learn to fight so well here on the Hide...or...is it natural talent or former training? If...you could indulge me...first, before we get on to the…reason you are here."​

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii expression softened slightly. Of course, such was the paradigm of noble-like behaviour. To meander around the point before getting to it. He wasn't fan of it, but he wouldn't say no to the duke, not only due to the rank difference or because of Kaii owing a debt to him. More so, because it would be simply rude, considering his current state.

"Truth to be told Your Grace..." Kaii spoke now with a note of politeness, genuine one. "While each member of my family was taught how to wield weapons, for we would be poor artisans should we not know how to use the tools we craft, I unfortunately didn't get to train with them. Instead, to uphold this tradition, I took on the weapon my father was known for using. In fact, the blade of my Glaive, also served him." The marble fox explained, his expression and body slowly sulking as he dug closer to the pains of his past.

"And I've trained with it myself. Working on memories of what my parents could do. Also in part to ensure my own safety after my ward was assassinated. I have fought before, but this was first time I truly got to partake in organised combat. As such, my decision-making was... suboptimal."

Kaii could admit whenever he made an honest mistake. He now was wiser, simply by knowing that he needs to be at least slightly more defensive.

"I am thankful for your assesment of my acts as brave and honourable. Truly those are virtues my dynasty was trying to uphold ever since they came to those lands. And hearing from you, your Grace, that I have in your eyes managed to do so, is possibly the closest to the praise I could've gotten from my dead parents."

 

[Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn managed to give Kaii a small, if pained, genuine smile as he heard the younger todd’s story. He managed to shake his head as the other fox criticized himself, and, feeling changed from his experience in the Dark Forest, he decided to do something he rarely did. Managing to speak once more, he tried to comfort the younger fox, who did not quite understand how impressive it was he had survived such a grueling first conflict. He had intended, at most, for them to take on a few dozen shrews. Instead, they had held off almost a thousand.

“The first battle...the fact that you survived...with the knowledge you had, or even if you had more...is something you should be able to be proud of...in fact...your parents and your father, I think, would be proud of their son. That you used his weapon honorably, to defend both the Imperium and your friends...as a father, I could not be prouder of you were you my son.”

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii winced at the words of the Duke. Not because he inherently disagreed with them. I could not be prouder of you were you my son. Those words? They hurt Kaii far beyond the wounds he still had. Simply because... he couldn't feel them. His task of bringing his family name back from the gutter was something he did as a duty to his kin, expecting no praise nor rewards. They were all dead after all. Still, some part of him, the child that was forced to grow up, wished to hear from his father that he indeed did well.

But way larger part of him still insisted he could only rest and be proud, once his dynasty will again return to glory. With his father, mother, sister and all kin that have died in the harsh years that affected the Imperium being alive in the traditions and knowledge he would pass upon his children.

Before that, such praise, even coming from a fox that was possibly the finest warrior Imperium had, one that was a Duke, only heightened the amount of effort he needed to contain his pains.

"Thank you... Your Grace. I am... unworthy of such high praise coming from you." Kaii responded, still with levelled voice and managed expression, yet his ears have fell to the sides. "To fight is my duty as a member of this crew. To protect was my personal oath to my friends. And I still am but at the beginning of my path to restore my family's status, truly bringing them something to be proud of, even if they all are dead."