synnthos:
〖 ⎯✫⎯ 〗
Miyuki watches as the young man bounds over to where the villagers gathered, engaging the one manning the stew pot in conversation. The people here are gracious to her as a foreigner, and tenacious in the face of such hardship. It pains her that they have to go through all this, while the leader of Grecia does nothing about it. She has yet to meet the one named Athos, but there is a part of her that wonders if he is somehow involved in all this.
She briefly recalls Himiko’s words of warning regarding Demitrius. Don’t trust him, she had said, his brother is always watching him. But after the recent events, the young woman cannot help but find herself wanting to put her faith in him, despite the risk he posed to her and her purpose here. Would he believe her if she told him the true reason behind these acts of violence? She’d have to give it some thought.
Upon his return she takes the bowl from his hands, giving him a small smile of thanks. At his suggestion she nods in agreement before the two enter back inside, the cloth rustling softly at their movements. After the pair have settled in and are seated on the ground across from one another, she begins to blow onto the steaming hot stew, the warmth of the bowl permeating into her hands.
“So, what’d you manage to find? I can’t say I’m familiar with the way things work around here, so you’ll probably have to explain it to me like I’m a child.”
〤;
"Don’t worry. Even I get confused. And I’ve lived here all my life.” He laughs after his words before he takes a sip of his stew. Rosemary hits his taste and he gives a content and warm sigh. It was a hearty stew, hopefully the other didn’t mind.
“The people who attacked us aren’t apart of our people--or my people I guess. They might’ve been mercenaries hired by that noble, and gotten their hands on Military grade stuff. A lot of times people quit the guard, and become mercenaries if it pays better...” He wouldn’t be surprised either if someone was bribed to get them it. Blacksmiths were often bought out by his army, and they had access to the stronger stuff by default. Someone selling their stuff wasn’t uncommon and if he wanted too, he could probably see what was stolen.
“Alec, my friend who’s assigned to that man’s guard said that he hasn’t left the capital. It’s possible that he already sent his orders clear out the hunting ground before he returns...” He trails off, looking down at the bowl in his hand. There had to be something more--a real rebellion? An experiment? Hunting grounds were sold at great prices, and it seemed like a waste of money to scare away the lush prey that would live there.
“If you scare prey away from that area, the predators will usually leave to follow. It’s a good place to meet secretly since generally people aren’t allowed without permission.” Demitrius muses aloud before taking another sip of the stew. He chews thoughtfully, brows furrowing for a moment. “I’m starting to think that there might be a rebellion...but it doesn’t make sense. Most nobles love Athos. The minority, well...”
Wants him on the throne.
A sigh escapes from him, a frown forming before he shakes his head.
“The villagers around that area are terrified of nobles, so they wouldn’t trespass on that land. And it’d be easier for them to meet in their townhall, or something instead of going through all the trouble of scaring the animals away. Plus the forest might just invite monsters in at night.” His words take form in a thoughtful manner, brows furrowing in before his free hand rustles his already messy hair.
“I’m not close with the noble but I can probably ask Alec and his company to spy for a bit. Though that might take more time than we have...”
Spy work was also not his forte. That was Athos’.
“Sorry. I guess I didn’t get that much information.”