Nikodem followed Malta closely, pressing into the soldier's possessive hold instead of tugging away like he might have been more likely to do the day prior. The soldiers that were awake, at least the ones still in good health, were milling around the camp now. The sleep was still evident in their eyes, but they went about their respective tasks all the same, or at least they did until the little elf was brought in the midst of them. He attracted quite a bit of attention, even all tightly bundled in the pelt that Malta had offered him. Niko was a good six inches smaller than the shortest man in their midst, not to mention his shock of long, glossy dark hair and overall little stature set him apart from the crowd in a dramatic way. It seemed it was a way that made him desirable to many in the camp for one way or another, this became increasingly clear with each boring gaze until finally one of them stepped forwards to ask after him.<br/><br/>Malta paused, and Niko was briefly afraid that he was considering the man’s request. He pressed himself just a bit closer to his captor, biting down onto his lower lip and clutching the pelt just a bit tighter within trembling hands. He glanced over his shoulder at Malta, his eyes pleading with him to decline the man’s request. He didn’t even receive a glance from the larger man, but all the same the fellow soldier’s request was decline, and with a few bitter words the pair moved on. Nikodem allowed himself to be led up the length of the camp to where Vahit’s tent was located. The little elf didn’t hesitate in stepping through the opening held aloft for him by Malta, and he lifted his gaze upwards to find the gentleman seated at his desk right where they’d left him the evening prior. He looked as though he’d gotten about as much rest as Niko himself had, but it wasn’t as though he was surprised. With a horrid disease wiping out a majority of his troops, the young southerner had to imagine the General was under an impossible amount of stress.<br/><br/>A conversation quickly began between the two northerners and Niko was gestured toward the fire. He allowed the pelt around his shoulders to fall open and he reached his hands out over the open flame, humming softly to himself as it’s warmly flooded through his bare skin. He listened quietly as there was a brief back and forth between the pair of high ranking individuals, discussing him and his subdued mannerisms and potential usefulness. He didn’t offer up so much as a sound whilst the other two was speaking, not wishing to agitate either of the powerful men beneath the tent’s covering, but it wasn’t too long before he was spoken to.<br/><br/>Niko flinched ever so slightly when he felt a pressure on his gifted pelt, but he didn’t shy away too much. Not for lack of wanting to, merely for a lack of ability as Vahit held him fast in place. The little elf looked back at the general with a set of widened eyes, and he glanced briefly at Malta before turning his full attention back to the older male.<br/><br/>“W-Well, Sir, I must admit that I don’t believe I could have managed to seduce him. I froze up last night, not that he neglected to make use of me, but I wasn’t the source of much excitement for him I’m afraid,” he whispered honestly, gazing at the man levelly despite a slight wavering in his tone of voice. “I’ve seen a similar illness … I know you didn’t entirely believe the story I relayed to you last night, but the young girl I was treating in my homeland was suffering from something … Well, it was something similar if not entirely alike what I’ve seen here in my brief time spent within the nursing ward … I’ve been working on treatments, and if I could have access to my notes and supplies I could potentially continue my research, under the watchful eye of whomever you’d wish, of course.”<br/><br/>It was, perhaps, a bit bold of him to request these things outright instead of allowing Malta to do that bit of talking for him. At this stage, however, he was either going to be used or killed, and he wasn’t sure it mattered if he was slightly out of line in regards to which route was taken.