The spies are in trouble...

Old Mercenary Base: Holding Cells.

This is the entry Hall to where the slave cells are. Bits of mud and hay can be seen in the hall and a guards are posted at all times. The door is kept locked tight with well made locks untill its time for the slaves to be let out for work or if one needs spoken to. The floors are stone like and the walls are stone and have no windows.

Exits: [IN]side Cells, [B]ack

The darkness of the hallway is good for hiding...especially if you are the colour of night itself. Lenore and her crow companion are standing in a corner, looking for all the world like mere darker spots -- or ghosts of slaves past.

Ragg is exploring this 'new' place with much interest. There seems to be something serious on his mind for his eyes aren't dancing quite as much as they should be, but there is still a fair amount of gaiety flashing in and out of his big yellow orbs. As he glances about his eyes do rove over the raven, but he obviously did not see her for he keeps looking around, thinking innocently that he is alone.

Lenore laughs silently, then booms out in an ear ringing caw, "How /dare/ you tresspass upon my realm, worm!" The crow lets out a very muffled laugh, wich earns him a stomp on his foot from the much larger raven.

Ragg almost jumps out of his skin and he falls back a bit toward the door, eyes completely serious now. Upon realizing it is just Lenore, the laughter comes back to his eyes and a sarcastic smile spreads across his lips "Since when is this YOUR realm? And for the last time I am a /weasel/ not a worm or a ferret. You really MUST have feathers for brains if you can't tell the different between us."

Lenore jumps over and lands exactly 2 feet in front of Ragg, her beak mere inches away from his nose. "If anybeast has feathers for brains, it is you!" she thunders, making the crow jump in fright. The raven's eyes narrow and she adds, "I noticed that you didn't do anything about that dibbun the other day. Can't you handle our masters' deeds, or are you really the worm I think you are -- a spineless worm in a weasels' suit."

Ragg gives a forced laugh "I will have you know I could NOT have feathers for brains considering I don't have feathers in the first place." He than shivers, just slightly at the thought of the headless dibbun "I will also have you know that I DID do somthing about the child. I buried it so the body would not stink up the yard and yes I can handle /your/ masters deeds, but some of them are just a bit over the top and no I am not a worm in a weasel suit for that is logicly not possible. If anything you are worms inside of you, but you yourself are not a worm."

Lenore opens her beak to say something, but the male crow at her side caws something and makes her stop. She listens, then reuffles her feathers and murmers/caws somehting back. She looks at Ragg and says, "Good. I did not know that. And I don't eat worms. Only uncivilized creatures do that." here the crow caws indignantly, but is cut off by a harsh 'word' from Lenore.

Ragg grins "mayhap you did not know that Because you have been less watchful lately..." than he laughs outright "Uncivilized? Than I must be quite a heathen!" He is not saying that he eats worms on a normal basis, but when he is short on food he makes the best of whats he has.

Lenore poufs up and gets an angry look in her eyes. "Are you accusing me of slacking in my work?" she takes a step forward, her beak perilously close to Ragg's eyes. "Have you forgotten what I said about the shadows?"

Ragg smiles as the raven gets closer and says quite plainly "Yes, that /is/ what I am saying." Than he shakes his head with a small shrug "I remember what you said, no need to think I do not, but you also must remember what /I/ said so we can stay at an understanding with each other."

Suddenly a jagged, curved swordblade slips between the raven and the weasel. "Shut up. Both of you." Vladmir is suddenly standing there near the door to the slave cell with a raven on his shoulder. "This is no time for petty squabbling."

At the sight of the swordblade, both Lenore and her crow give off startled caws (that are actually quite loud) and hop back a good 2 feet. Hanging her head like a naughty dibbun, the raven mumbles, "He started it."

Ragg looks rather startled as the blade comes between him and Lenore and he takes a small step back than he takes a glance at Vladmir with a slight shiver and some of the laughing in his eyes quickly disappears. At Lenore's words about him starting it he gets a indignant look on his face "She lies! She called me worm first!"

Vladmir glances from Lenore to Ragg, then shakes his head and curls his lip in contempt. THRAK! Suddenly he seizes their shoulders and slams their heads together...HARD. "Idiots."

Lenore gives off a caw that sounds much like a scream as she gets her head whacked. Her hollow bones now ringing, she wobbles back, holding her head in her wings as the crow makes a combination of comforting and fear-filled noises.

Ragg was not expecting the head whack and he gives a yelp of pain and surprise as it happens. Seeing stars, He rubs his head and throws a beseeching and dazed look to Vladmir "There was no need for that, sir. We NEED our heads in one piece...or at least I need my head, I can't say as much for her." at the word 'her' he points to Lenore with a slight smirk.

"Do you know what happened to Desotoe?" Vladmir says in a deadly low voice.

The crow behind Lenore mumbles somthing that soundes like an 'uh-oh', and the raven backs away a little more. She ducks her head and murmers, "No, what, my Lord?"

Ragg shivers and now fear shows through his mask of joy as he takes a step away from his boss "Yes I do. That was a thoughtless comment on my part, so sorry." He suddenly finds the floor most interesting as he stares holes into it and might be getting ready to run.

Vladmir speaks in a calm, matter-of-fact voice. "He did not use his head. So I saw fit to remove it. Now, if I see such foolishness again from either of you, I may decide that you have no need for your heads. So you may share his fate."

Lenore gulps as the crow begins to shake. She, too, looks to the floor and murmers, "Of course, Master." and the other bird caws softly.

Ragg winces and bobs his head in a nod "Yes sir. I will remember that sir." He takes a small step toward the door.

"Oh, and Ragg..." Vladmir glances to him. "...don't think you can hide from me."

Lenore poufs up slightly and shoots Ragg an almost sorry look, while the crow behind her looks about *this* close to either throwing up or fainting from fear.

Ragg closes his eyes for a moment than gulps and says in a voice that is a bit to squeeky "Hide?" He coughs to recover his voice "What do you mean, sir? I have not tried to hide, sir." He takes another tiny step toward the door, keeping his eyes on the ground

"You're fleeing," Vladmir says with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Lenore takes a step forward as the crow turns and does something rather nasty. Coughing, she says, "Master, perhaps he is here for only a short time. It would suspicious if he stayed away for too long." She looks ready to flee herself if need be.

Ragg forces out a nevous laugh "I am sure you are wrong sir, but I /DO/ have to go and....do somthing with pockets." He throws a quick and rather thankful look to Lenore before he steps out the door and starts to fast walk away.

Shaking his head, Vladmir mutters, "Why can't I have some PROPER henchbeasts?"

Lenore begins to preen herself, deciding to not answer that question. The crow turns back, still looking a little sick. He softly caws, and the raven (not the 1 on Vladmir's shoulder, the other 1) answered back.

The raven on Vladmir's shoulder, Halfbeak, hops down from his perch and squawks.

Lenore looks down her beak at the other raven. "Hello, half-face." she sneers, and the crow behind her laughs.

Sadly, we had to leave here.  :( Thanks for reading!