"A uniform?" He looked over his body with performative worry. "But I’m so small. I’ve never worn clothes before, what if it doesn’t fit me? And, are you not coming with us? Will it just be your friend?"
Esperanza grinned at 'Twig' with naked delight.
"You, my friend, are surely underestimating yourself, 'uh? I was only your size when I first apprenticed under the Sword Saint – and younger, I expect."
The Cheshire grin grew ever-wider.
"
Dioses, imagine if we could have you evolve. You could
impersonate me, 'uh? Or the
Thorn, rather."
“So, ruining the lives of corrupt ruling figures just runs in the family, huh?” she asked with genuine curiosity. “A career path I can get behind.”
Esperanza winked at Odette with evident satisfaction.
Yes, yes it did!
“Clearly a lot of thought has gone into this, that much I’m not disputing…but were you just waiting for a group of unsuspecting travelers to come along and agree to assist? And do you have any contingencies provided something were to go wrong?”
"Nnnnot as such," she said, turning coy. "I had, you might say, a
visión. A blessing from my master – I was expecting you. If it were not for you, I would have made do on my own, or waited for another opportune moment. In truth, I rather liked the odds of success as they were. If I am right to trust you, I have every confidence the plan will succeed. In any case, Don Rodrigo's attentions will be on me, not on you."
"And if we're not guard-y enough and payin' the real guys off doesn't work? What then? What's the back-up plan for when it all goes wrong and the border guards decide they don't like the wagon full of guys who're only, what, fifty percent fighters, at best?"
The Floragato put her paws up, mollifying.
"The ideal is that you aren't even stopped at the border – there isn't the manpower to stand guard at all times. Failing that, I've seen to it that the border guards on duty at this time are in on the plan, and wish to see the Baron humiliated, and they will let you pass. Failing that, guards can most certainly be bribed. Failing
that, you may fight... or flee. And in the event that you
are so unfortunate as to be captured, I swear on my life that I shall effect your rescue personally."
She chuckled to herself, smirking mildly.
"Of course, all this is a
safer route to your destination than any alternative you're likely to find."
"Look, I dunno if we've made it clear exactly how lost we are. We're not supposed to be here. We weren't supposed to be in that hell dungeon we wound up in. I have no clue what's going on, aside from none of it's got anything to do with me. I'm not even supposed to be a— Where are we actually going? Can we even still get there from 'Battery' or whatever?"
Gladius grunted, pawing at his muzzle. "We're in the Protectorate, just south of the Commonwealth border. We need to get into the Commonwealth. If not here, then... Well, I can't say I'm too familiar with Tenacinde. But I doubt we'll get a better chance than this. I'd rather not take any risks, but the alternative to this is just.
Other risks. So."
He groaned miserably. He sounded almost adolescent.
"I guess this plan has my fucking vote. For want of any better options."
