Chapter Nine – A Snake in the Grass
"Kobold attack. Raided the hamlet stores, but nothing the local militia couldn't handle. What is this about, Flame Lieutenant?" Serpent General Tsun Mhakarraka asks of the warrior standing before him. He's just gotten out of a particularly long Alliance meeting and those are always stressful. Dealing with fickle politicians isn't the general's favourite part of the job.
Kit describes in detail the incident and all throughout the conversation, Tsun's brow furrows into an ever-deepening frown. When the Midlander stops talking, Tsun beckons to one of the meeting rooms and closes the crimson-panelled door behind them. Pointing to an armchair, the Miqo'te puts one hand to his ear and speaks into a linkshell, issuing orders in a hushed tone.
"You were right to come to us, lieutenant." Tsun walks to a chair opposite and sits down, his eyes fixed on the other man. A curt nod in Kit's direction. "Where's your Garuda's Van?"
Not quite understanding, the Midlander frowns thoughtfully. "Stored away safely. Why?"
"I am guessing Ms. Marceaux was in possession of her Garuda's Beak when she went off to Aleport." Tsun watches the expression on the Hyur's face carefully. If there's one thing he's learned in all his long years of service, it's that you shouldn't take things for granted. Never assume the facts.
"Yes, but what's that got to do with anything? Have you been listening to me?" Kit asks tersely.
Tsun reclines back into the chair and appraises the situation in his head. Satisfied with the Midlander's honest reaction, he gestures towards the closed door but never takes his eyes off the other man.
"I've already sent a group to search the road between Bearded Rock and Skull Valley, but I fear it may be too late. Serpent Lieutenant Marceaux may very well have walked straight into a trap."
"What..." Kit stops, bemused. Thoughts whirr furiously in his mind, a hundred questions ask themselves at once. Is she really in danger? Did he willingly send her off into a trap? Did the Grand Companies know about all this? Has he ignored the signs once again? As terror begins to coil around his insides like an ice cold serpent, he panics and stands up suddenly. Kit turns his back on the Miqo'te and storms towards the door. "I have to go find her."
"Please wait and I will explain," Tsun says in a voice that is almost too calm. When the other man ignores him, his voice transforms into a fierce snarl. "Sit down, Flame Lieutenant."
Kit hesitates by the door, one hand resting on it rebelliously. Nothing is going to stop him but then he sees the look in the Miqo'te's eyes. Sharp and ferocious like acid-yellow daggers, they glare at the Midlander unflinchingly and then just at the edges is a softness, barely concealed. It speaks silently of compassion and regret, even guilt. Everything Kit feels pulling at himself. He reluctantly walks back to the plush crimson armchair and sits down, his gaze locked onto that of the general's.
Tsun starts from the beginning. He tells of the recent kidnappings throughout Eorzea, how each victim is completely different except for one shared fact; they all possess artefacts of the wind primal Garuda. The Grand Companies have known about it for some time and have been trying to find those responsible, on the quiet. Only the highest ranking individuals in the Maelstrom, Immortal Flames and Twin Adders are privy to the real extent of the investigation. They've narrowed it down to an inside job, a professional within the ranks. Whoever is carrying out the kidnappings is very well informed and an expert at covering his or her tracks.
"The fact that Ms. Marceaux is female and that she has you, a partner who also owns a Garuda artefact, is unprecedented. We believe the primal herself is ultimately behind all of the acts, using third parties to kidnap adventurers who have bested her in battle for some form of revenge. As you well know, that particular primal is extremely vindictive and cruel, sadistic even. She thrives on torturing her victims and..."
"You're not putting my mind at ease here," Kit snaps, but Tsun merely holds up one hand. The Midlander rises from the chair again and paces the room, unable to sit still.
"Please let me finish. As a Gridanian you should know the extent of Garuda's cruelty, how she delights in killing women and children first so the men are forced to watch. Ms. Marceaux is effectively a bargaining chip for her, as she wants your Van too, but you lie beyond the reach of the primal's claws and those of her agents. In that one fact lies our chance, however slim."
Just then, there's a swift knock at the door and in walk two Maelstrom soldiers. Between them with his hands bound is the recruit that had given Rose the order to assist at Aleport. Kit flies across the room and is at the man's throat in an instant, pinning him forcefully to the wall.
"Where is she! What did you do to her!" he shouts into the Duskwight Elezen's face. The prisoner looks terrified and tries to back away, unfortunately trapped at the behest of a madman. Kit's voice dips low and dangerous. "You'd better start talking or so help me, I will rip out your heart. Right here."
To his credit, Serpent General Tsun Mhakarraka doesn't intervene. He listens to the whispered update from one of the Maelstrom soldiers and then dismisses them both. Kit's particularly aggressive style of interviewing a suspect is interesting to say the least, and surprisingly effective. Although it's not the confession either of them seek, there's much to be said for the raw fury of a man torn from his soulmate.