Her attention turned back to the tea, drinking deeply from the cup. He would not press, his attention straying to the mare, his palm pressed to the warmth of her neck in idle thought. His gaze would linger once again upon the multitude of fresh flowers that wove like ivy through the jetty strands of her silken mane. “Oh dear.” The words accompanied the rattle of the packaging, once again reinforcing the thought that she did, quite certainly, have a sweet tooth. When Osmanthus next fled to her presence, he would have to laden him with such treats to pay his way to the spoiling that the delicate lady gave him. He only hoped that the feline wouldn't merely eat them himself.

Things were to progress avidly now. A fact that had invoked some manner of turmoil within himself on its own. While he was not often one for rest, he would find even less time for such a means if he was to continue down the path of his current plans. Tonight would be a cursory test, one he hoped would prove well. He hadn't expected to spend so much time here in the eaves of the shops, if he was to be honest. He had thought to be better prepared for the mess of things to transpire, but maybe it was for the best. It gave him more time to think, to plan out the trajectory of his scheme. He was not one to often visit Anderstel for a great many of reasons, but he was familiar enough with the area. Momentarily, his thumb would brush over the parchment that made up the enchanted 'pet' within his pocket. He hoped it would function as he wished, a small trial needed before he went on to larger feats. Though judging by what details he had witnessed already in the interaction with Avarice, he felt confident it would function as he deemed.

He should be able to use it to discern routes any patrols take, a silent report written upon its surface, along with anything the guards would speak. He knew a small holding cell nearby where those deemed unfit to till the fields were held for either sell or execution, it made an almost too perfect trial area before he would move this operation to something different. It was also rather lowly populated in his experience, so he held his hopes that should he be too debilitated or things went too horribly wrong, he would be able to make a good retreat to rethink his strategy. “I do not see why not,” her voice withdrew him from his musings. “But you needn’t do so if you do not wish it.” His crown would tilt faintly. "If I didn't wish it, I wouldn't have offered." He reassured.

Though her next words would take him slightly off-guard, making him feel a faint chill, “May I be frank with you, sir?” Once again, his head would incline, a silent affirmative for her to continue. He more than half expected for her to spin her farewell and depart, though instead, she would continue, “I think I was worried you would be cross with me regarding Osmanthus.” His teeth clicked together lightly, a thoughtful hum departing him. He was uncertain if he should speak to her of his own presence there, that he knew at least somewhat of the ordeal that she had gone through. He also knew Mithras's view on those he viewed as lowly worms to be crushed under his heel, so he could merely fill in the blanks of their interaction within the pass of his imagination. Perhaps the whole of his sharp tongue wouldn't have found her, as a means to not draw attention to himself more than necessary in the excursion. "Not at all. I knew Mithras had found Osmanthus. As I told you when I left him at your home, all you needed to do was ask him for me. I don't make a habit of prying into his business, but I can. Communicating with me through him truly is quite that simple."

“I quite enjoy his company as I do yours. While my mother doesn’t necessarily disapprove of them, I think she is more inclined to canines.” This, however, truly brought a slight mirthful chuckle from his lips. He had gathered as much, though it had been faded when he had stayed under her roof, there had been the tell-tale signs of lycanthropy clinging to the walls. He didn't want to seem rude, let alone offend her over her mother - or perhaps it had been her late father - but he certainly didn't prefer the company of mutts. “Of course, there is always a reason behind every action, I think.” "I understand," he spoke after a lingering pause of his own. "If it is ever an inconvenience for you for him to be present, you can always send him away." His weight would shift, his arms crossing loosely over his chest. "As for myself, I will not trouble you unless you call for me, because as you know, I'm more of a cat person myself."

 
The harbor was much more lively than he could scarcely recall. He assumed it was for the very self-same reason that he had darkened the wharf, to answer the notice that had recently plagued the city and beyond. Everywhere the Red Queen's malicious influence crept were the royal declarations claiming that as of late, ships were returning to harbor unmanned or the boats neglected to return at all.

And of course, it was the wrath of the northern sea.

Had it only been a small number, he and many more of the residents would have merely written the loss off as yet another victim of the angry tides. The weather was known to change, quickly, without mercy and the swells the pivot resulted in were nothing to be taken lightly by any means. Many large merchant vessels and naval fleets besides had been known to disappear beyond a wall of salty mist, their crews only to be cradled by the arms of the tempests. However, now, there was talk among those who had deigned to practically live upon the waters: curses, ghosts, monsters, a myriad of other tales. Among them as well were sirens, mermaids that drew the vulgar imaginations of the uncouth and young.

He, however, knew what lay at the far end of the unmapped region. Beyond the reach of the continent of Klewyth, lay an abandoned island, a forsaken land by both man and the gods they once worshipped. No whisper had yet graced his ears that any had discovered the ports of that old world, and he hoped that it remained that way as there were far worse that haunted those shores than the mere presence of parasites.

"Look, laddy, I've told ye, we're not leavin' our ropes 'til this matter's a settled." The captain would once again deflect, his arms crossed steadfastly across the open splay of his half-buttoned shirt. A soft hum reverberated through the mask that concealed his identity. A hand would reach within the shade of his large cloak, drawing forth a fat bag of gilded crescents, a commune in which he had found loosened most of even the hardest wills. Greed was always the downfall of man. "And as I've said, it is hard to investigate the cause when you cannot reach it." As expected, the curdled and grizzled fellow almost denied the payment, but hefted the sack instead with a disgruntled growl accenting the action. "If you lack men, I will help what crew of yours will brave the trip."