Insider Plot

JP with Winteroak and White_Caribou

The Ozainae liked their roguish scheming. Shalia knew a man like Tamazzalt had many cards up his sleeve and details he teased her with, and she liked a good teasing.
But still had so many questions that she wasn't sure if it was the right time to ask. Though as allies, it made sense to know each other's plans.
Moments like this, she usually didn't dwell long on how an outcome was reached, so long as it was. But moments as dire as this rarely came about. She couldn't help but wonder anyway. For now, what he said was reassuring enough.

"Perfect," a grin tugged at her lips and she nearly failed to suppress it. "I was told once that efforts to destabilize the Stone City were at hand. Could you tell me more about that?"

"A few weeks ago, before she died the Seer issued commands to the Herald of the Malestrom." He said unsure if she was familiar with the title. "He is abroad setting plans into motion that will culminate with the Rising of the Sand Horde." He explained hoping the frontality of his words went some ways to reassure her that he would all all he could to fight the foreigners to this land.

It did indeed reassure her further. Tamazzalt did not mince his words, nor did she miss the tone of them. They felt sincere as he focused his attention on her. As for the herald, she grasped the importance of this figure-- the Bringer of the Horde.

"Another daunting title? I'll be sure to not doubt him, then," Shalia said half playfully and took a drink of tea. Her expression then hardened as her thoughts jumped someplace else.

"I have a question regarding my trip out here. In desert travel, is it common to encounter raiders...even to those as respected and feared as your priests?"
She was still bothered by that evening and a finger anxiously tapped against her glass. If anyone would know the behavior of this desert, if not its people, surely it was the Ascendant. And she had launched enough questions of war his way and he gave all the details that he wanted to.
They could discuss war more in the time to come. She may be here a while, after all.