[Amanaduial the archer]

“Now what? Now we do something! We can’t get the government to listen to us, and we can’t do nothing. So we’ve got to stop him ourselves. That’s all there is to it!”

'We do it ourselves?' 'That's all there is to it?' Oh good grief, the same madness as was on Devon has apparently attacked Calnan... Needless to say, Callath was a little less inspired than the other two with the plan to storm every Corsair in Umbar and put them back in their place. Callath gave a small cough, wondering how to phrase his words to cause the minimum offence, then looked up at Calnan, who had turned to him. "We...we do it ourselves?"

To his dismay, the attache seemed truly inspired, his face lit up. "Of course! Doran's two trained thugs couldn't even take down Devon - sorry, Devon," he added hastily, before continuing, "- it'll take alot to stop all four of us!"

Callath winced inwardly, then tried to be diplomatic. "Calnan, that's the thing - there are only four of us. Against Corsair in Umbar! Seriously, try a calculation - half of the sea front districts are almost entirely ex-Corsairs, who will be enraged at these rules and who, therefore, we would be 'against'. How many men - and women - do you reckon that is?"

Calnan's smile faded a little, and both he and Devon suddenly seemed to realise just how much they would be up against. But on Calnan's face the expression which Callath referred to as his 'business' expression was forming, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he was about to explain. But Devon was completely fired up again, and Callath rather felt that, although the attache had thought it through, Devon may be back in rebel mode... "We're more than equipped. All of us know how to fight, and with Calnan's knowledge as a secreatary, from inside we can-"

"Do you have a ship?" Callath's comment came out as a little too abrupt, and Devon coloured sharply. Callath tried to speak quickly to allay the obvious offence he had caused, but Devon got there first, his voie rising angrily. "Sounds like you'd rather not do anything."

Now Callath was angry. "Don't be stupid, Devon, you think I want to see the place over-run with the likes of who Doran has proved himself to be? Sly, treacherous backstabbers-"

"I can think of another besides Doran now, Callath."

Callath gave a sharp intake of breath, starting to speak angrily, amazed at the fact Devon could even make the comment, before he stopped. The older boy would not let this escalate - they couldn't be seperated now. He stopped and took a deep breath, the two of them breathing heavily, before the stable boy let out a deep, slow breath. "Sorry, Devon."

"You too, Callath," came the reply, and a small smile, which was returned. Calnan watched impatiently, and butted in now.

"What would you do then, Callath? No really, we need a plan of action."

Callath's mind had started spinning the moment he stopped yelling at Devon, but as for a way to sort things out fully...tapping his lips thoughtfully, Callath thought for a moment, then turned to Devon. "Devon, d'you reckon you would be able to stop your father passing the laws?"

Devon looked contemptuous, then stopped, thoughtfully. "Bear in mind what happened last night...if I told him about that, he would have to believe his own son's word over that of Doran, right?"

Let's hope so. Callath didn't say it aloud, instead nodding. "Go for it."

Devon smiled at Callath, determination written on every line of his face, then started outside the door of the stable. Callath just had to hope Ambassador Thrann wouldn't notice his son hadn't shaved yet this morning. As he turned slowly to look thoughtfully down the interior of the stable, Callath's eyes inadvertently met those of Doran's stallion, who Callath still hadn't mastered.

Calnan, noticing where his gaze was headed, grinned, standing abotu a metre behind his friend. "Doran's horse, right?"

Callath nodded, then shrugged, looking back at Calnan with a wry smile. "If we really get stuck, we can always steal his horse."

Calnan laughed and turned to go out the way Devon had, calling back jokily, "That can be our back-up then, Callath - plan B, steal the enemy's horse!"

Calnan grinned, and turned to go out the door, before Callath remembered something that had slipped his mind and called him quickly. "Calnan, wait! Devon!" Jogging out of the door, he caught up with Calnan only a few steps out, and Devon halfway across the front courtyard. "Adeline!"

Calnan's eyes widened. "Adeline!"

"Indeed," Callath grinned dryly. "I though I'd tell her now when you're off, but best that we all tell her - besides, if we all go to see Ambassador Thrann, we have the weight of your word as well, Calnan." The older boy nodded, before he set off at a quick walk again, with Callath beside them, catching up with Devon, who fell into step beside them. Turning out into the street towards Adeline's house, the three didn't talk for a while, an business-like air of thought and purpose settling around them.

[ November 13, 2003: Message edited by: Amanaduial the archer ]