Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford
Rural Northwind

"Exactly the point," Amaryllis shot back. "She weighs a little bit of nothing and would gain you nothing. A sheep would feed you for days. Weeks, even. Besides, you're not going to eat a child. It's just going to be another mouth to feed until you manage to sell her or something. Just give her back, and you can have the sheep and anything else you want. Just not her!"

Poor Amaryllis! How naive she was; oblivious to the fact that this madman intended to eat Rosalee. Instead, she assumed that he intended to take the child and sell her into slavery somewhere, or perhaps indentured servitude, or at best, sell her to some couple that desperately wanted a child of their own. The last one, however, she was quite sure would never happen. 

"No one would want to buy her anyway," She continued, still hobbling after him, leaving a thick, black trail of blood behind her. It was getting harder and harder to move, the darkness threatening to consume her. "She's a mute."
Carlos
Arvid Erwynson
Rural Northwind

For a time, it seemed Arvid was fighting a humorous grin. His lip would quirk upward before being reigned in to that neutral, thin line frown. Then, his smile would itch. Eventually, as she declared that he would not consume Rosalee, his restraint buckled. Cold laughter echoed from his hollow chest. It was condescending, spiteful, the laugh of a man who knew more than poor, sweet Amaryllis. Like he was partaking in a joke she had no stake in. Arvid carried on; his sword did not falter in its threat. It remained pointed at Amaryllis, even as its wielder guffawed, its tip lightly bouncing in time with his laughs.

"Poor, poor girl. The money doesn't interest me." Arvid managed after some time, treading backwards as he had before. "*This* Can feed me for months." 

For the first time in their encounter, he smiled. It was maniacal. Inappropriate. The corners of his mouth were pinned to his cheeks unnaturally, like he was imitating what a smile ought to be. Chilling, especially when its glee did not reach his eyes.
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick
Northwind Council

Rhoderick rather hoped that, in all the hubbub, no one would consider the fact that he had met Levi before and should have known-and pointed out-that Malachi was not, in fact, who he claimed to be. Of course, he had little faith in the other members of the council and seriously doubted they would ever come to that realization, but it would be... A nuisance, shall we say, if one of them did. 

Regardless, he took the sudden change of circumstances in stride, which really could not be said for the other members of the council. They bickered and fought, arguing with Levi and each other, but mostly they shouted at Levi and Malachi, furious that their council had been defiled by an uninvited outsider. It was only when Levi towered over Lord Kalheim threateningly that they fell to silence. None of them had the courage to take on a man such as Levi, for all their talk. They sat in sullen silence, glowering at Rhoderick, Levi, and Malachi as they spoke amongst themselves.

Disgracing Lady Reagan? Playing mind games? Sinking his fangs deeper into the very heart of Northwind? His lip curled in a smug sneer as he nodded and replied, "Convincing them that a hormonal female isn't fit to lead? That should easy enough." He chuckled. "Rian should easily see that she was a feeble minded woman that was just easily persuaded, blind to the way that the Koerns have used their house, if he's half the man I think he is. When we talk man to man, he'll see that he needs to take back their house and oust Cyprien."

Amaryllis Sweetford
Rural Northwind

A cold chill gripped her heart and a wave of nausea washed over her, though she wasn't entirely sure if it was the blood loss or the horrifying realization that this monster intended to take Rosalee and eat her. Probably a combination of both. This whole time, she had thought he intended to kidnap and sell Rosalee; it had never occurred to her that he would want to feast on the child. How could she ever convince him to give her back? Reasoning with a monster seemed futile. 

Yet she had to try. 

"Please," She pleaded, moving a little faster and with more urgency. "I have a little money that I can give you instead! You can feed yourself well for months! Buy whatever you want! It'd be better a bony, scrawny child! And the sheep! You can have the sheep! Or I'll go with you instead of her! Please, anything else, just don't hurt her!"
Carlos
Arvid Erwynson
Rural Northwind

Arvid cocked his head inquisitively as Amaryllis spoke.

"Oh, that's strange. I remember somebody saying that this cabin didn't have anything valuable. Nothing at all, that's what she said." His eyes were lidded, expression portraying something like a mockery, "My daddy told me not to trust a liar's word."

He supposed she was not unlike an animal thoroughly pinned in a corner, hissing and raising her hackles. The bristle and the grit and the up-and-down swears were distinctly human, primitive at that. Amaryllis had threatened him until she was relinquished to bargaining - then, her true nature bled out, following her blood in a heated race across her skin. What good were anybody's words in a state like that? What were promises heaved from between the lips of the dying? Empty, terribly hollow. Arvid turned his eyes to the moon. Pleas were made with the night air, for Arvid did not hear them.
Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford
Rural Northwind

Amary grimaced as he mocked her, pointing out her lie from earlier. Of course, even her savings were meager, but she would give anything at all now. No fighting. No argument. As long as he returned Rosalee, there would be no further resistance.

"Please," She whispered, her voice cracking. "I'll give you *Anything*, anything at all." She stopped following him, pausing, before turning so that she was partially facing him and partially facing the cabin, then dropped the axe. It fell to the earth with a hard thud that seemed to break the night. Maybe it was foolhardy, but she had to hope that, disarmed, perhaps he would hear her out. 

"If you'll just come back and let her Rosalee go, I'll get you a warm meal, show you where I keep our savings, give you the sheep, and... See to any needs you might have. Please, you really don't need the girl."