Welcome to Gaia! ::

Johanna gave him a wary look. Something didn't add up, but she didn't know if it was just because she was herself or if it really was something wrong. She disliked him immensley. He was too sure of himself, too full of himself. He was infuriatingly smug.

Hmph!

Her body ached and her head throbbed much too much to think about him though. She'd keep a wary eye out before making a rash decision. She wasn't much for being saved, but if he was he the real deal--she was on board.

He knew that Johanna did not trust him, it seemed to radiate off of her in waves. So she was smart after all, too bad it will be too late when she realizes that she had been tricked and her last light of hope be extinguished forever. Vortigern looked behind him, checking to see if they were being followed and swallowed a curse. If that idiot ruins things for him, he would not be alive to make the same mistake again. He turned to Peeta and smiled, “My mother taught me how to fight. She is a fierce mare that does not take kindly to those who slack off. So under her tutelage I became the accomplished fighter I am today.” His eyes went to the muddy metal on Peeta’s back left leg, the stallion’s limp was more visible now that exhaustion settled into his bones, also the rain was not helping, “How’s the leg? Would you be able to keep up with a faster pace? I wish to get to the safe house as soon as possible.” And that way, if they were concentrating on placing one hoof in front of another to get to safety, then there will be less time to chit chat. Vortigern was already growing tired conversing with the tributes, but he held on to the ruse. He would make mother proud.

The boy was a smooth liar, he had to give him that. At the same time though, he knew that Johanna didn't trust anyone--He bet if she met her reflection, she'd question her too.

He could hear Johanna talking, asking nosey questions. Vortigern handled them easily though. He wasn't sure how far he was luring him. He wasn't really wanting to go that far, he'd rather have his vengeance now. He'd beat them both black and blue, he'd never let them leave alive.

He didn't think they'd be allowed to live anyways. They had specific orders though to keep them alive. They were bait, or something. Important enough to not let the die even if it would be easier. He wasn't sure what the boss had against them--but he didn't really care as long as he was paid. But if they pulled another stunt like this, pay or no pay he'd kill them both and have done with it.

Vorty nodded his head in agreement, “She is a force to be reckoned with that is for sure.” He turned his gaze to the path ahead, “Okay, let’s cut the chatter and increase the pace, I don’t like being in these woods.” He knew that he did not have much time; he had not considered that the mare would be so suspicious and he had not factored in the Kalona following them. Would he cause them problems or would he continue to follow and not draw attention to himself? The Capital really needed to dispose of a few of its personnel and when this job was done, Vortigern would be happy to volunteer for the position of executioner. The first to feel the slow agonizing death of his poisons would be the green kalona following them.

He was glad they had all stopped talking, lying was easy, it was keeping up with the lies that were the hard part and his audience was not an easy one to manipulate and sway. The small party had a few hours until they reached their final destination and if everything went according to plan, nothing was going to prevent them from arriving there unharmed. If the green Kalona did decide to interrupt, Vortigern had some Knockout Gas in his satchel. It was one of Vorty’s favorite nonlethal poisons, it caused terrible nightmares and when the affected person awoke, it was with a splitting headache that incapacitated the individual.

Silently they clomped on; his thoughts went to what will happen after this mission was completed. He would bring his mother the minions she desired. There were a few that had caught his eye and he knew that his mother would find their offspring just as fascinating. For this job he had left a Queen, who in a few months will have his children and since she did not want them, more minions for the glorious Goddess of Vengeance that was his mother. His thoughts then went to his mother, she could never do any wrong in his eyes, for she was perfection, she was what every mare failed to be. Did she grow her army now without his aid? Did she have a new favorite child? Jealously sprang in his chest, no! Quickly he pushed it aside, he was her first born, her favorite child and the heir to the throne, she was her favorite, and nothing was ever going to change that fact.

The hours passed and the safe house appeared in the distance; to those who did not know it was there it just looked like a batch of trees, but Vorty knew that behind the trees there was an entrance to a cave mouth.

“It is just up a head. We are almost there.”