The moon hangs bright in the sky above the settlement.  The bonfire burns on, the voices overcome by the velvet night long before they reach Auris' house.  She's retreated to the kitchen, away from Valerian and Clearshot, still at the table in the main room—to make tea, presumably, but her mind is too scattered to be good company.  The way those two look at each other, though, she's sure they don't miss her.  She reaches out, quietly, to Gwrtheyrn's mind.  Her restlessness is infectious; he remains beyond the walls, pacing, patrolling.  She leaves him be, and puts the kettle on the stove.

The quiet of the room is undermined by murmured conversation drifting through the doorway.  Auris glances to the window, and slips out the back door.

Light spills briefly across Gash as he leans forward from where he's sitting against the house.  "Long day, ain't it?"

Auris closes the door.  "Indeed."  She shivers, though the night is warm, and glances about.

"Ah don't suppose ye've been talkin' t' the guards much?"

"I've read their reports.  You've been...visiting rather often."

Gash nods thoughtfully.  "How'd the bastard act durin' the trial?  Cooperate an' such, or nah?"

"...He cooperated well enough."

"No mind wizardin' or nothin'?"

"No, no 'mind wizarding' or anything."

"An' as far as ye know, 's the asshat fucked wi' Val lately?  The mind wizardin' thing from the band o' asshats or something?"

"What is this about, Gash?"

"Wonderin' 'bout the answer first, then ah'll tell ya."

Auris frowns, studying his face.  "He didn't do any of that, that I know of."

Gash sighs, staring down at his lap.  He stands.  "Ye know, ah was really hopin' fer an execution; woul' make m' next week a bit less busy."

"What did you promise him?"

"...A week from t'day, ah'm gonna be dropping by an' telling laisho everythin' ah know 'bout this place, 'er government, 'er defenses, leaders, whatnot.  Whatever ah can't find out, ah'll be telling 'im roughly how longabouts it'll take me t' learn it."

Auris gapes at him.  "You—"

"'S a warnin', Auris.  If there's something ye really don' want me telling 'im, make sure it's hidden.  Ain't gonna give 'em nothin' on ye, or Val, or anyone ah like, but e'ryone else's fair game."

"There were reasons for my leniency, but you'll throw those to the wayside."

Gash only shrugs in response.  "Ah ain't a fan, ah told ya, but if ah break this deal, he'll break other ones, an' that matters more t' me than yer government."

"It matters more to you than the government?  More than the integrity of this settlement?  You—"

"His first ask was as much as ah could dig up on the three folks tha' Val spends the most time wi'.  Ah'm sure ye can imagine what ah said t' that suggestion."

"And this one's so much better."  Auris' tone drips sarcasm like poisoned honey from a comb.

"Ah was askin' fer something important, an' this one's something not tha' important t' me," Gash says with a shrug.

"What is so important?"

"Val's safety."

"The settlement's safety is Valerian's safety!"

"If knowin'—"

"You know this is the best he's had.  And the Lunides may well be strong enough to destroy this place—and to give them that!"

"If knowin' exactly what paperwork ye file when bringing a person t' court, or knowing who's elected on the council and who works fer the Defense Force is 'nuff fer them t' take the town, or take Val, then ah'd be real disappointed in the town's ability t' defend itself."

"You promised him a lot more than that—and I'd rather give him none of it."

"Ah'm not breakin' my word, Auris."

"Fine.  Fine!  You..."  Auris sighs, draws a breath, exhales.  "What was your deal, exactly?"

"Like ah said, in a week, ah'll be telling 'im everything ah can find, an' figuring out how long it'll take me t' learn the rest."

"Everything...or how long..."  Auris frowns.  "Then...you should speak only with me," she says slowly.

"An' why'd I do that?"

"Because, Gash, you know me.  You know my faith and holdings.  Because..."  A smile creeps across her lips as the idea blossoms, some perverse pleasure in returning the frustration she's felt—for why should she say the thing outright when she could demonstrate it?  "Because when we have gone on hunts together in the past," she says, the words slow and measured, "a thing perhaps somewhat rare, but more for a lack of time for such things from either of us than any other particular reason, but when we have had the chance of finding the other is also venturing into the jungle at the same time and with the same goal, you refrain from being so forward as to lead anyone anywhere—excepting within the mycelial basin, of course, when you were the best chance we had of finding our way anywhere at all, and even then you accepted that role with such reluctance and clearly wished not to have it..."  She's warmed to her task now, taking pleasure in stretching out every detail—though, of course, only to make her point.  Of course.  "No," she says, "you refrain even from keeping altogether too close, in your estimation, to any of the rest of us, keeping yourself back, behind, out of sight, but where you might watch and so be ready for any danger that might leap out and take the rest of us by surprise."

Gash is squinting at her, suspicious.  Though he hasn't moved, he still seems to have drawn back into the shadows, away from the moon.

"What I mean to say, of course, is that in making this deal you exhibited the same sort of thing, for you went in ahead—and even though it was ahead, this time, and not behind, it still shows that same aspect of your character—that you would prefer to plan and prepare and prevent whatever ills could befall you or those you care for, like the other offering any sort of resistance or opposition or in any way interfering with the justice I was in charge of serving to him."

She'd have laughed at his expression if her mind wasn't awash with ideas and metaphors—how she's missed the spoken word!  "What I mean to say, Gash, is that you are a cautious man, and if there are two paths to reach the top of a mountain, and you must, of course, reach the top of that mountain, or at least prove that you are trying to, well, if one of those paths will take you there quickly, but you don't know the dangers along it, there may be cliffs you have to walk along with only the narrowest of paths and the sharpest of drops, there may be dangerous animals or even bandits along the way—by which I mean to say, of course, there may be many difficulties in obtaining any sort of truly reliable information going about this entirely on your own, without such assistance as I provide, which must needs be a covert sort of operation—and if the other path is long and winding, but you know the full length of it is level and passes not by any cliffs, nor does it wander through any ground that might be said to have the danger of landslide, nor does it have at any point along its length any of those dangerous beasts or bandits—and here, I mean to say, if you have a manner in which to gather the information which may be slow but that you know is entirely reliable and will, eventually, get you to your destination—well, Gash, tell me: which path would you choose?"

There's a long pause in which he stares at her, eyes narrowed, and she has to focus even to make him out in the house's shadow.  "Ye might be onto somethin' there," he says at last, and the shadows seem to relax with him.

"I've been called both Silvertongue and Weaver, and I shall earn them both twice over by the time we're through."

"Laisho's shippin' out on the next boat, though.  What 'appens in yer scheme if'n ah haven't given 'im enough t' be satisfied by then?"

The gravity of the situation returns, and Auris' smile fades.  "You said the deal was everything you could learn in a week, and a timetable on when you could learn anything further—you never promised to deliver anything further."

"...Ah value bein' able to make deals wit' 'im.  Ah don't want 'im deciding that our other one, the one keeping 'im from pulling 'is mind wizardin' on Val for now, isn't worth keepin' anymore."

"He could demand he was unsatisfied until you told him everything you know now or ever will know continuing forward.  You'd be a fool to so much as consider such a thing."

"Well, ah was hopin' he'd never get back to that shit family of 'is."

"Tch.  Likewise.  But you're more fool than I thought if you based a deal on uncertainties."

Gash raises an eyebrow.  "Could'a been, ye know."

"Fool?"

"Dead."

Auris gives a slow shake of her head.  "There's too much against it.  His actions here don't justify it, and that's what I need to use.  I can't prosecute him for something he did where our laws don't reach, before they even existed; you must see how quickly that would undermine the whole thing—how quickly it would ignite the near-tangible fear everyone has of becoming Kairos!  They might be glad to be rid of the other, but they'll fear what the circumstances mean for everything else."

"So ye did it for fear?"

"No!  Well...you're not as wrong as I'd like.  This town is too young, and too small.  The Lunides are almost certainly strong enough to leave a mark at the least, and...may well have the power to destroy it.  I cannot, in good conscience, choose single-handedly to make such a declaration of war on the town's behalf."

"So ye're sacrificin' some o' Val's safety fer the settlement."

"You really think Val or the settlement would be safer with the Lunides' ire?"

"Settlement's stronger 'n Val."

"And what if it isn't strong enough?  And what should I tell those injured or killed because of it?  That it's too bad, but Valerian's safety was more important than theirs?  And what about the legal precedents?  Should I dig up your past and find a reason to execute you, too, before you knew what the laws here could possibly be?  That's a quick way to send the whole thing crumbling to ash—and what would Valerian have then?"

Gash grumbles unintelligibly.  "Seems t' me ye could'a just asked folks if they'd be a'right declarin' war."

"Maybe.  But it's done now."

"Hmf."  He looks away.  "If we go through wi' this plan, ah got some conditions on it."

"They are?"

"Maybe we'll be lucky an' laisho'll laugh...but if he don' like the taste o' it, he'll for sure go after me an' Val, and maybe anyone else he think's involved."  He takes a breath and continues, "Before the next time ah'm in a spot where ah might talk to 'im, whenever that is, ye'll do the best ye can t' make sure Val's as far away from 'ere as possible.  Distance 'elps, an' he an' Clearshot know how to get to m' hidey hole if they want to use that."

"Clearshot—?"

"Yeah, Clearshot, what about it?"

"...Sorry."

"They've been good for Val, or haven't ye noticed?"

"I...must...not have noticed.  Has...that been going on for a while?"

"Little while, a' least.  Val seems happy, so ah figure it's a'right ah don' see him as often."

"I see."

"So ye make sure there's distance between Val an' the asshat, an' that it stays tha' way 'til the danger's passed, whate'er that might mean."

"I—"

Gash holds up a hand.  "In 'ddition t' that, nobody knows tha' we're in cahoots.  If'n anybody asks, ah came up wi' the clever fix, an' ye're jus' the one ah'm going to 'cause ah know ye're the right kinda person t' use fer this."  A pause, and he lowers his hand.

"I won't say where I'll take them," says Auris, "or if I'll take them anywhere at all—you should understand why.  And..."

"...An' what?"

"You know, you could—I will never claim to like hiding things as you suggest, but if you're forced into a situation whereby that won't work, the whole thing is entirely my idea.  I forced you to come around to it, after all—you didn't wish to break your word, or even bend it."

"...Ah'm not gonna fight ya on who gets t' jump on the axe o' problems fer moral purposes, Auris.  Sometimes shit 'appens an' thin's go sideways, an' if it does, ah'm fucked regardless.  Ye ain't, an' someone's got t' look after the pair o' idjits when the dust settles, if shit goes real wrong."

"I know what you're trying to do.  But if it's gone that wrong, I should think they'd have a way of getting the truth from you—but you could truthfully lay the entirety of the blame at my feet."  A beat, and she adds, "And even that I told you to hide my involvement—for so I'm agreeing to now."

"Heh."  Gash grins, and whether he looks more of predator or prey, Auris couldn't say.  "And 'ere ah was thinkin' that ye were too straightforward for tongue-twistin' shit afore tonight."

"I will never pretend to enjoy it, but it seems...necessary, to get out of this mess with as little harm as possible."

"Hm, yeah, yeah.  Ah'll agree t'...all what ye said, though."

"Then the agreement is made."

Gash nods, then hesitates.  "One word o' advice—if'n shit does go sideways, don' be somewhere ye can 'ear 'im speak.  Tell yer folks the same thing.  If ye hear 'im, then he's got the chance t' fuck wi' ya."

Auris raises a brow.  "What has he done?"

Gash mirrors the expression.  "Ye don' know?  Figured he'd be playin' wi' some o' the guards too or something."

"I only know a few were shaken by him.  Do you mean to say it's something more?"

Gash sighs slightly, then looks Auris straight in the face.  "Ah can say for certain that 'e knows how t' cause fear by magic.  Ah'm...pretty sure he's trying t' figure out some kinda command spell; 'ccasionally he'd ask me t' do really weird thin's, like cartwheels an' shit, an' get real disappointed when ah didn' do them immediately."

Auris frowns.  "He never tried such things with me.  Perhaps because he knew my role—and what it meant for his fate.  But I'll keep your warning in mind."

"Right.  Like ah said, warn yer folks; ye don' want them getting controlled int' running 'round doing 'is bidding."

"I rather think 'my folks,'" Auris says, smiling at the phrase, "can take care of themselves."  The expression fades.  "But I'll pass it on."

Gash nods.  "Good, though ah'd 'ppreciate it if'n ye didn' hear it from me."

"The guards did tell me about it, even if I mistook quite the exact meaning at the time."

"Hmf, might want t' keep an eye on that.  Never know wha' folks like that're capable of."

"Indeed."

Silence falls.  Gash pushes away from the wall.

"Gash..."

He looks back.

"There's no good way to say this, if you know what it is.  Does three hundred gold mean something to you?"

Gash raises an eyebrow.  "Sure sounds like a lotta money.  Pro'lly coul' buy a boat wi' that."  He glances toward the door.  "But anyhow, don' let an old rat talking 'bout nothin' keep ye from yer guests.  Ah'm sure they'll be wantin' that tea."

Auris doesn't move, nor do her eyes leave his.  "Three hundred gold.  A timeframe of months.  A discussion of those things.

"Someone approached me with what three hundred gold meant," she continues, "quite worried it applies to someone here.  I should like to soothe that fear, if possible."

"Seems like something t' worry 'bout after the next ship off the settlement, don'cha think?  Bit of an odd time t' start a whole new hunt when ye haven't finished the first."

"You speak as though I choose the time for these things to occur.  If that was the case, nothing at all should've happened until the system was ready for it.  The more you dodge, the more you convince me of my theory."

Gash smirks and rolls his eyes, walking away.  "Remember m' first condition, Lieutenant," he says over his shoulder.  "Afore ah see laisho, ye get Val outta th' way."

"Gash."  Her gaze shows the first hints of a glare, her tone tinged with warning.  "As Lieutenant, I need to know whatever deal you may or may not have made is not against a citizen of this town—or with a citizen of this town."

He pauses, thinking a moment.  "Ah've made...three deals, by my reckonin', since coming 'ere.  Two wi' the other, one wi' a fellow o'er a contest.  None o' them were fer money."

"Hmm."

"Bird in the hand, Weaver.  Be seein' ya in a couple o' days."

That didn't answer the question.  They all have histories beyond the town.  But he's disappeared into the night, and the kettle has long since boiled, and her bed calls to her beyond it.  Auris turns, and goes back to making tea.