An Immodest Proposal

[crimson_war_demon]

Thus far, Lancer has had little occasion to speak with Lord Matou. His main duty now is to accompany her Ladyship, and assist her in her efforts, and he hopes he's performed satisfactorily in that regard. Now, however, he kneels in seiza before her Ladyship and Lord Matou both, and finds it easier to lower his eyes to the ground than to raise them. Should he look up, he would see Lord Matou all too clearly, and -- no, it is ungracious for him to think such things, and likely even dishonorable. Nevertheless a strange itch crawls up his spine; the sensation is not unlike what a cat might feel, were its fur brushed the wrong way.

"My lord," he begins, "and your Ladyship. Kamanosuke has delivered valuable information about the Lady Tohsaka, but there is a more pressing matter than that. While by the river, I encountered the Servant Saber -- a Western woman, though I cannot venture any other guesses as to her identity. She is as fast as I am, at least, and wields an unusually thin blade, and parried my blows well with it. After several passes, she offered an alliance. Of course," he adds quickly, lest they receive the wrong impression, "I would never presume to make such a decision in place of my Master, and told her as much! However, I gave her my word that I would convey her message to you, for my lord and her Ladyship to do with as they please."

He lowers his head, braces himself for reproach. "Lady Saber has proposed that I meet her tomorrow with our answer, whatever that answer may be."

Comments

[wormintheblood]

Zouken taps his cane ponderously. "Well, then, Kaede." He stares at her piercingly. "That will be that, won't it? I certainly hope Saber is not for the Tohsaka or Einsbern families." He expects them to be moderately prepared for his swarms.

[worms_armageddon]

Kaede flushes slightly, unable to help feeling chastened -- already beginning to doubt that she has done the right thing. "If they are," she says quietly, "we -- we can make new plans."

A thought occurs to her: "Lancer, you sent one of your Braves to spy on Lady Tohsaka. Did he -- could he identify the class of her Servant?"

[crimson_war_demon]

Lancer straightens his back, glad to be of assistance in this matter. "Kamanosuke's intelligence would indicate that the Lady Tohsaka's servant is not Lady Saber," he says. "Recently, the Lady Tohsaka has taken many trips to her horse farm on the outskirts of Fuyuki, and converses frequently with a foreigner there. This foreigner is broad-shouldered and well-muscled, with dark hair and bronze skin. Kamanosuke could not identify his origin, but believes him to be from the south of this continent, or from the deserts to the west. This Servant's skill at handling horses led Kamanosuke to suspect that the Lady Tohsaka summoned Rider to her side, and such an assumption is not unreasonable."

A small glow settles in his chest, warms it. Her Ladyship has shown not only honor this day, but courage -- and consideration of strategy, just now.

[wormintheblood]

"Hmm. This is good news for us. The Tohsakas and the Rider class are not likely to be compatible." Like the Matous and the Lancer class. "And it means Saber is with someone else. Good work, Kaede."

"And do you have any guesses who Rider is?"

[crimson_war_demon]

"I fear I do not," he says, lowering his head slightly. "My knowledge of those regions of the world is very limited."

[worms_armageddon]

"But we have more information about Lady Tohsaka than we did," Kaede says -- it is perhaps a futile attempt at comfort, but nonetheless it is an attempt. "And we know that -- that it isn't likely that Saber is serving one of the other three families. I'm very thankful for all of your help."

[crimson_war_demon]

"And I am honored by your thanks, your Ladyship," he says. His smile is faint, more in his eyes than in his mouth, but it's present nonetheless. "Forgive me if I presume, but might Saber's Master be affiliated with some other clan?"

[wormintheblood]

"Saber might be joined to the Einzbern family." Zouken shifts his cane. "They have yet to make any moves of which I am aware. So I suspect they have one of the more... quiet classes. Assassin or Caster seem likely." He chuckles. "And if Saber is with another clan, it hardly matters which one."

[worms_armageddon]

Kaede shivers slightly at the chuckle, turning her gaze to her feet and the floor. "We'll know," she says quietly. "Soon enough. They -- they won't be able to hide the information easily, when we're... when we're allies."

[crimson_war_demon]

Lancer nods sharply in assent. "Your Ladyship is correct -- and I am confident that you will know how to best proceed with that information, once it is yours."