My Most Faithful Servant

[Maleficent]

As Crow's lips left her hand, she lifted her hand just slightly to stroke his cheek. She let her hand drift back, long nails just ghosting over his skin, letting him replace his trade mark mask. 

"Mmm," Maleficent picked the hairbrush up again, returning to her earlier activities, "So we have a plan of action to proceed with the unrest in our ranks. We'll gather more information on the overseers and do what we can about their various loyalties... Is there anything else of particular interest left for you to report, my dear?"

[Crow]

The graze of fingernails on his skin was enough to hitch his breath. It was different, like this, than from receiving the attention as Diablo. But beyond this ever-so-slight halt in his movement, there was no noteworthy reaction. His body straightened, adopting once more a decidedly formal posture.


  "There is." Crow's tone had returned to a more businesslike nature as well. "Two nights ago, our good friend Thomas decided that his accommodations weren't good enough for him, and slipped away from his cell." Gloved hands clasped behind his back, having no cane to idle himself with this evening. "He was eventually recovered and returned, but I felt the fact there had been an escape to begin with merited your attention."

[Maleficent]

A frown creased Maleficent's face, a light one, but a frown none the less, "Is that so? Well, that won't do."

The faerie pursed her lips in thought keeping silent as she brushed her hair thoughtfully. Eventually Maleficent sighed in displeasure, "I'm disappointed in the discipline of this army. From minor infractions such as Thomas's to more gave ones such as Hikaru's."

Maleficent put her brush down and tapped long nails against the vanity table. Click. Click. Click. Her gaze in the mirror was hard, her casual relaxation being eclipsed by her irritation.

"Yes, he wasn't an important prisoner. And no he didn't defect from our forces. But it's a small display. Made larger after Hikaru's complete treason," Click. Click. Click. "I don't want more disrespect to come from this. Thomas is an imbecile. A mere child who has no idea the situation he's in. If my forces can't be trusted to keep an eye on him of all people..."

"I might have to resort to more extreme measures if we can't keep even our simple prisoners contained," her eyes flashed once and then Maleficent closed them, taking a deep steadying breath, "I wanted to show a more fair and just face to the legion. To bolster camaraderie and morale. But I suppose they aren't ready for that yet..."

"Thomas will be dealt with. But tell me, how did he escape? What is the weak link in my chain of orders that I need to break?"

[Crow]

At the mention of Hikaru, Crow felt his hands involuntarily grip behind his back. He considered himself personally responsible for her desertion; his one glaring failure. But one was more than he could tolerate.


  But it was a matter for another time. Crow listened silently as Maleficent mused on a course of action, taking into account that further disrespect could no longer be brushed aside. And when Her Excellency demanded to know who could be named responsible, Crow gave a thoughtful hum. In truth, he'd been prepared to go without naming names, as the situation had ultimately been handled, and by an Overseer, no less. Oh well. The sultana wanted an answer, and she would have it.


  "It would appear a number of our legion were involved in the matter." He began, recalling the events to the best of his ability. "Thomas was originally left in the ghazi Perthmail's care, who apparently stepped away for a moment to tend to his own devices. In that time, he left Thomas with Nasira's tiger, Mystic, who in turn left him to the whims of our Overseer Scar." In hindsight, it seemed a rather comical event, and Crow swallowed the chuckle that was fighting to escape his throat. Once it subsided, he concluded. "Perthmail sought Nasira for help, and the pair managed to track Thomas down."

[Maleficent]

"Well, at least there was team work in their attempted deception," Maleficent sniffed delicately, "Ultimately I gave the task to Perthmail. A relatively simple task, don't you think?? Unfortunately this entire issue was born of poor delegation."

Maleficent 'tsk'd lightly and raised a hand to her temple, massaging it lightly, "I blame myself. I started the chain by trusting Perthmail to keep an eye on a single, bleeding child."

Maleficent sighed and looked at the mirror in contemplation... she had to think carefully about how to respond to this. React to weakly, and discipline will waver in the ranks. Or at least waver even more so than it already has. However, if she reacted too harshly, too hastily, it will cause more harm in the fear that it could strike. It could cause more splintering of her faction. She also considered it a sign of weakness to over react to small inconveniences. No, no, this required a delicate touch.

"Do any others know of this incident beyond those involved?" Maleficent lowered her hand and flashed her gaze over her shoulder at Crow.

[Crow]

Crow shook his head evenly, not daring to break away from Maleficent's gaze. "None that I yet know of, Mistress." He was not omniscient, so if there had been further communication, he hadn't been aware of it. But he was prepared to make certain, just in case.


  He considered Maleficent's demeanor.  Even those that didn't know her so personally could see a dangerous anger behind her eyes.  "If I may be bold, Mistress, what is your plan of action?"

[Maleficent]

"Very well," Maleficent turned primly back to the mirror, "Let's keep it that way. Nice and discreet, I think."



The dark faerie had decided her best compromise was to punish Perthmail privately. It would get the point across with out attracting attention. It was a small affair, and thus it should be a small punishment. She will have to think about it for now.



"I will have to think about it in more detail later," Maleficent sighed, her mood soured. Only slightly, but soured none the less. This progress report had been less than pleasing. The Sultana stood from the vanity mirror, her hair untangled, and no longer keeping her interest.



She drifted back to the table she had previously occupied. She pulled open a drawer and retrieved a sheaf of papers. Long fingered hands smoothed the pages over the dark wood. Included in the stack was selection of maps that grew in detail. It was of the location to their mission to Australia.



The only thing to do about these unsatisfactory issues was to move forward.



"Moving on," Maleficent beckoned Crow to her, "About our coming excursion to Australia. I'm going to assign Nasira as the commander of the operation. It'll be a test of her on more than one level. However, she still needs to be supervised. I want you to go as well. Observe and interfere as needed."



Maleficent flipped to a map with detailed marks showing various routes and supply chains, "These will be our targets and objectives however," Maleficent looked at Crow, "My priorities are as few casualties as possible. This is more a test of our abilities than actual acquisition. It'll be pointless if my forces are damaged extensively in a test."



"Understood?"

[Crow]

  Crow joined her side, examining the maps she had lain out for him with great interest. He took meticulous note of things such as hiding places. Alternate routes. Means of escape and undetected entrance alike. These were his modus operandi. Even if he didn't intend on being there in person, every advantage was worthwhile. Moreover, it might not be him that would need them, but the scouting party.

"Observe and interfere as needed."

  His objective was clear, then. A test for Nasira; a mission he would supervise. By all accounts, it should be a simple enough task to achieve. But Crow knew better than to go in without expecting the unexpected. He laid his hand over his chest and bowed to the sultana, both out of respect and acknowledgment.


  "Understood, Your Excellency." Beneath his mask, Crow smiled, glancing up at her from where he bowed. "I won't fail you."

[Clopin]

My Most Faithful Servant is now CLOSED