"What could warrant dragging something like you out, I can hardly imagine."<br/><br/>From where he sat, Holt eyed the bound man and shook his head sadly--the guards that had brought him nodded and left, setting the key to his manacles onto the table with a soft thunk. Finishing off what was left of his ale, and after another solid bite of the meat pie settled in front of him, he wiped his hands and undid the man's bindings. The locks on Sydney's arms clicked free, and a moment later there was a jerk at his head as the blindfold was tugged off. Holt tucked the fabric back into a pocket in the thick vest he wore.<br/><br/>"I'm going to go out on a limb," he said slowly, returning to his food and looking forlornly at his drink, "that you're smart enough not to need all that." A steaming forkful of the pie made its way to his mouth, and he chewed thoughtfully before looking to the Sanctioned and gesturing with his knife. "Drink up, far as I'm concerned. My treat. Depth's wager you'll need it."<br/><br/>As his applicants filtered in, he continued eating at a measured pace. A solid man, he kept himself relatively tidy while he ate, and as Eva and Mira approached he motioned to the pair of them to take a seat around the table. "Ladies," he said simply, looking between them with an amused, if weary, gaze, "it's been weeks since I've had an honest drink and longer since an honest meal. Excuse me if I keep at it while we chat--order as you like, it's on me."<br/><br/>"Early enough to get the thrust of it, so wouldn't worry your pretty head about it." Holt added as Charlotte made her way into their midst and Rocco slid into his seat. He sat back and took a look over the assembled before launching into it. "Normally the monsters in the woods seem content to run themselves at the wall like good little lemmings." He dabbed at his beard with a length of cloth before looking between the assembled--his eyes were weary but moved surprisingly quickly for a man of his appearance, picking out details before flicking back to the food in front of him. "As those of you that live around here have probably noticed, however, things have been a mite different of late. The Illuminate have seen a change in the attacks and, more importantly, caught a party slipping past the walls wholesale. Some sources," he said, not bothering to elaborate further, "seem to recall them slipping through the woodworks like they weren't there at all."<br/><br/>Another pause as a round of drinks was brought for those that were interested, as well as any food that might have been ordered, and he coughed and looked back to the group. "We--and by that I mean the Knights--have seen something similar to this before in a few other outlying settlements, and given a chance it will only get worse. It tends to mean the wildlings have thrown their lots in with a very bad crowd, and if we don't cut the infection out now it won't just be a few drunks and beggars that get stuck."<br/><br/>Looking to them all, he offers a sardonic smile and sets down his silverware. "You sorry lot," he chuckled, "have the pleasure of helping them out in this. The Knights of the Drowned are few and far between--that a pair of them have come to your little town, and that they're deputizing so many of you, should serve as proper sign of the severity of your little problem. Current thought is to gather your things, meet at the wall, and be in the forest proper by dawn."<br/><br/>Finishing up his pie and taking another drought of the ale with a lean smile, he settles himself back with his hands on his stomach to watch you all. His eyes dart inquisitively among you, and it's obvious that he's somewhat amused by the bunch of you. "Questions?"