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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ladybird" data-source="post: 2932291" data-attributes="member: 10689">Nobody paid much attention to Twang, at first, when he sidled up to the Hanalians’ campfire. Six of the Hanalian knights were sitting around it, polishing their armor, roasting various bits of food over the fire, and chatting quietly, occasionally shooting a cautious glance or two over their shoulders towards the Canberrians. Twang slipped between two of them and started rooting around the campfire, attempting to look mysterious and harmless at the same time. One of the knights was saying gloomily, “We’re never going to find her – “ as Twang approached, and he cut off abruptly at the sound of footsteps. But when he saw who it was, he resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened. That didn’t surprise Twang at all. What did surprise him was that one of the other knights addressed him in Kobold. “Good evening, friend!” His accent was terrible, but the Hanalian was very definitely comprehensible. Twang grinned toothily up at him, and replied in the same language. “Good evening! I didn’t expect to find someone who can speak Kobold around here.”“Oh, it’s nothing much,” the Hanalian shrugged, in an entirely unsuccessful attempt at nonchalance. “I just picked up a few languages here and there. You know how it is.”“You’re very good.” Twang wasn’t sure that his attempt at flattery in return would be too successful, but the Hanalian seemed to puff up a little, and Twang decided to press his luck. “So, who are you looking for?”The Hanalian stared at him for a moment in surprise, then shrugged again. “I guess it won’t do any harm to tell you,” he said thoughtfully. He glanced over at his companions, who were still talking amongst themselves, then turned back to Twang. “It’s the Princess Anastasia. She’s run away. She’s an idealist, you see.” The Hanalian said the word as if it tasted bad, and rolled his eyes. “She took her personal guard and one of her mother’s vollers and ran off all on her own to fight the slavers here in the south.”“So you’re here to find her?” Twang asked carefully.“Well, us and 500 more of the Duke’s men. None of us have had any luck, though.”“What happens if you bring her back?” “The Duke will marry her!” The Hanalian laughed. “He’s twice her age, but who can resist the offer of a princess’s hand in marriage?”**Meanwhile, Varya was perched on top of the small tent that the lieutenant and banneret were sharing. She listened for several minutes to the idle chatter of the two men within, and saw Twang return from the opposite side of the campsite. The kobold entered Kit’s tent, then left again a short while later. **“She stole her mother’s airship?” Kit said, when Twang had finished. A grin spread across her face. “Now that’s the kind of Hanalian we can get behind! I want to meet this Princess Anastasia.”**Several minutes after that, Varya saw, with an amused sniff and a fluff of her wings, young Sir Bernard leaving his own tent and heading towards Kit’s, his armor polished and his hair carefully combed. It was only after Sir Bernard had left that the lieutenant started talking. “My lord?” the lieutenant muttered, as quietly as if he were speaking to himself. “Yes. We have encountered a group of Canberrians. They claim to be here to fight the slavers, but I suspect otherwise.” There was a brief pause, while the lieutenant listened. “Eight of them, my lord. Led by several young women. Katherine of Lyneham - I did not see her heraldry – and two Glordiadelian clerics. I suspect that they are here to capture the princess.” There was another pause, and when the lieutenant spoke again, there was a note of relief in his voice. “Thank you, my lord. I did not think it wise to attack, either. We will tell them nothing, and leave at first light.”</blockquote>

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