“No lasting harm done.” Althain says with a small chuckle. “Hmm, you say you had to forage for your crew? I’ll tell you what, if you go that’a way, there’s an Orchard. Check with it’s owner, but in the name of the crown I’m sure he’ll donate some food to your cause.” As he spoke he raised his hand and pointed straight opposite of himself relative to Ari and Dolphus.
“It would be absolutely terrible of me to not have you return with your objective, whilst I know where it’s to be found.” He paused. “I could send a pair of my Marines, to ensure you get there safely of course.” He smiled at them, in this he was being genuinely truthful, he’d gotten enough information to satisfy the Admiral.
Most of the story was fabricated of course, once a man starts lying about his name he’ll lie about anything. However, the rare kernels of truth hidden inside, no doubt to make the lies believable, those were the prize here.
A short distance away, on another small island, a small figure lay on a beach. White gloves, now wet and dirty loosely gripped about a cane. Nico Markl was dying, but not dead yet, he was also unconscious. A shadow fell across his face.
A clicking voice called out to it’s fellow, “Found it, it’s a human. Near dead, what should we do?” The speaker was a young female Halinth, her red shell spotless and glistening in the sunlight.
Her fellow, a larger male Halinth grunted. “Take it to the Village, they won’t die if we can help it.”