Welcome to Gaia! ::

"And yet what open places would be safe enough?" Chesnet asked hesitantly. "I still don't like the idea, but ... if you're going to insist on going through with it then it's got to be as safe as possible. And how would we get the General to go to the place where we want him?"

"It's also got to be in a place and at a time that we dictate," Mathias spoke up, reluctant to go along with the discussion. "The streets are too open. Accessible from any direction, too easy to be surrounded. Market is a bit less open, but it's got too many innocent people there who would probably end up getting hurt. Forest is free of civilians but it's way too open. In a home is too dangerous for risky for whoever it is who lives there."

Mari leaned back in her chair and folded her hands on the table in front of her. There was a troubled look in her eyes, and she looked as though she had something she really didn't want to say.

Mari looked at Lin, while the others looked sharply at her.

"I do," she said quietly. "But Chesnet and Mathias aren't going to like it."

Mathias' eyes narrowed, and Chesnet held his breath in anticipation.

"What is it?" Kyrie asked softly.

Mari looked around at all of them. "If I go out and someone sees me and reports it to the General, yes, he will come out, and he will come looking for me. But no matter what we do, we can't lead him where we want him, and no matter how much planning we put into it, he will do the same, and he has a lot more men than we have. No matter what we do, he will have the advantage."

"And how do you propose we change that?" Chesnet asked cautiously.

Mari smiled humourlessly. "We knock on his front door. So to speak."

Mari glanced at Lin, ignoring Mathias and Chesnet, both of whom were protesting loudly.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I'm hoping that it won't even require us going inside. Perhaps the shock of my arrival will tempt the General outside. He won't have a chance to muster his men, and I can really think of no other way to catch him unawares. Surprise is our best advantage, and this is the best way to get it."

Then she sighed. "And if you all are with me, with Lancaeriel's magic and Miyuki's and Andarien's Pokemon ... and if Kyrie is there, with Uruloki and Kasal, not to mention everyone else with weapons ... I honestly believe that we can do this. And this is the only way to ensure that no innocent bystanders are caught up in the crossfire, so to speak. I know it's risky, but what other option is there?"

Chesnet looked properly chagrined at Lin's statement, but Mathias just glared back at her.

"I make no pretense of not being biased," he agreed. "Mari's safety is my priority, and I'm not ashamed of that."

"Well there's a time and place for that, and this is neither," Kyrie said flatly. "Mari, if you believe that this is the best way to go about it, then I for one will trust you one hundred per cent. You knew the General when you were growing up, and you're the one who has been dealing with him for the past two centuries while I've been gone."

Mari smiled warmly at Kyrie. "Thank you, my friend."

Kyrie nodded her acknowledgement before she pressed the subject further.

"The only question left then is when," she said quietly. "Sooner is better, of course, but the middle of the day would attract attention far too early. If we wait for cover of darkness, we can use Uruloki to approach the castle unnoticed, but we would have to be insanely careful when we leave here. First thing in the morning might be best - guards at their least alert, General half asleep ..."

"Then it's settled," Kyrie said, leaning back in her chair. "Let's go back down and tell the others."

She pushed her chair back and rose to her feet, then paused and turned back to Lin. "Lin," she said quietly, "it's up to you whether or not to tell the others about Earendil's condition, and I would understand if you don't want to worry your children ... but it may be wise to prepare them. If we find Earendil before we're safe, it may be too much a distraction for them to fight anymore."

When they headed back down to the cellar, they could hear voices coming from the front that meant that Tsara had customers, but they managed to make it down to the cellar unnoticed.

Andarien was working in his journal on a new casing design for a watch (at Miyuki's advice to keep his mind busy) and Eon and Zeus were amusing themselves exploring the cellar. Wren was chatting with Janos, while Hamir and Ruaven were keeping to themselves. Iadrim was trying to watch Miyuki and trying not to bother her at the same time, though her curiosity seemed endless. Lancaeriel wasn't in sight, inside the tent she was sharing with Mari, Wren and Iadrim.

Andarien looked up when he heard Miyuki speak, and he scrambled to his feet, knocking his journal aside. "Did you find Ada?" he asked eagerly. "Are we going to get him?"

Kyrie ushered Mari, Chesnet and Mathias towards a tent to give Lin and her family a semblance of privacy, though she herself stayed close to help answer any questions anyone might have. She had learned more than what she had told, but, like Lin, she had been loathe to give more detail than she was pressed for. She didn't like being the bearer of bad news.