Post #1552907 in Beginning of the End, a roleplay on RPG

Alastair had kept up a steady pace, but he had refrained from running. Running always left a clear trail, in any terrain. Especially in a forest. The faster and more reckless you move, the more bits of evidence you leave. Broken twigs, prints in the damp soil, bent branches. Any of those things would hasten the arrival of the king's men. But finally, they had come to Lemur. Thankfully the maps had been accurate. And the guard had been fully reinforced. It looked like it could have even been a full company or two of soldiers that had been posted in Lemur. "Vincent, Leomaris." Alastair said while still walking down the road that had led out of the forests, "Don't tell anyone your real names. Don't tell anyone that King Salick is after you." Alastair stopped and turned to the two. They were dirty now, clothes ragged, dirt crusted on their hands and hair, but their years still showed through. Neither looked like they would be convincing militia men, but it was the only story Alastair had planned out. "If anyone asks, we are here from Cedars, a small village to the west, to join the local militia. That will allow us to keep our weapons."

He locked his eyes on their's, switching back and forth between the two. "You two are my nephews. Your father was never there, your mother, my 'sister' died birthing you." He pointed at Vincent. "Don't tell anyone any unnecessary details, don't over elaborate. It indicates a liar. And I'd prefer if you let me do the majority of the talking." They would have to tread lightly here. And if anyone learned of the prince's or his own identity, it would not bode well for them at all. Alastair stopped to stare and make sure the two of them understood everything clearly, noticing that they still slightly distrusted him, but they had gotten a little more comfortable around him over the past two nights.

Alastair then turned around and kept striding down the road, a proud, confident smile on his face. He would have to play his part here, as the strong, protective, and encouraging uncle. He only hoped the boys would be able to handle all this without giving anything away. He stopped at the gate, which was open, but manned by several guards with pikes and plate armor. They barred the way, as suspected, and one of them spoke up in a gruff voice, "Oy, what's yer business 'ere?!"

"So it's true then?" Alastair danced around the question, speaking in a laid back tone, "That there's an army in the south?" The man squinted at Alastair, who looked like a pretty convincing commoner, aside from his sword and small amount of armor, which could have been scavenged from practically anywhere. But the guard didn't answer the question. A simple tact, one that many Kings use when an army invades your territory. It's against protocol to tell the people that you can't protect your own borders. Alastair nodded his head, hair shaking as he did so, "I thought the rumours might be false, but that silence gives you away friend! My nephews and I are here for the militia!" Alastair proclaimed with vigor, false as it was, but he quite the convincing actor.

After many years in the courts, at King Salick's side, Alastair had picked up on many, if not all, of the small subtleties people used to wittle and bargain and deceive their way into getting what they wanted. And this guard ate it right up. A smile cracked on his face, and his pike was straightened, the other guards following suit. Too easy. Far too easy to get in. Which meant an agent trained in this kind of thing precisely would find it to be child's play. Enemies could be anywhere. Everywhere. But Alastair kept his thoughts to himself, without faltering in his charade. "Ye' can go in! Militia barracks has temporarily been expanded into the tavern." The guard chuckled, "But yer boys ain't much, eh? Think they can handle it?"

Alastair smirked, then rubbed the side of his neck absently, "I reckon so. They got my blood in 'em afterall!" His voice was loud and rambunctious, out of character for him, but that's why it was working so well. No one would expect a man like that to be a former general. He laughed for a second with the guard, then quickly gestured for the boys to follow him through the gate, past the guards. He had no intention of really going near the militia's barracks, but if he ran into that guard again or if he sent word that someone matching their description was heading that way, it would be suspicious if he didn't show up. And it would deepen their cover if they actually followed through, if only for a short time. Slowing down to stand between the boys, he muttered in a hushed voice, "Remember what Uncle Alastair said," A smirk was on his face, but only for show, "Now let's go join the militia!"

Snippet #1552907

located in The Kingdoms, a part of Beginning of the End, one of the many universes on RPG.

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