Swamped

"Do you have time to spare after this evening's patrols, Mudviper?"

"Oh, hells. Mantis, we've been over this before. I'm not 'troubled' and I don't need to 'unburden myself' in your little confessional. And if you dare try ordering me to..."

"I merely thought, with Rider's disappearance, matters might be weighing on your mind more heavily than usual. I only wished to remind you of the option, should you desire to avail yourself of it."

"Stay on the damn topic, Mantis," Razor growls. "I still want to know what the hell she was doing last night."

"I told you. I warned Rider of a Bogknight infiltration attempt."

"And, in doing so, you got him to send half our force running on a wild goose chase while the infiltrators made it right to our front door. I also can't help but notice that you escaped alone, rather than helping your aides."

"I had important information about the poison. Given that the entire basis for the assault was that someone blamed the Bogknights for our recent troubles, I thought it was quite relevant to get that information back here swiftly."

"You could have used a crow," Bigfoot says. Urgh. She knows perfectly well why you couldn't.

"They guard their roost better than we guard ours. And, for that matter, they check it more often, because they've got more soldiers who can read. Even if I'd taken the risk of sending a crow, it could be days before one of you noticed it."

"Rider would've checked," Claws mutters, barely even talking to you.

"And that would have been very helpful when he was already leading our assault force, wouldn't it. If you ask me, you're all as much to blame for sending him out so recklessly."

"Perhaps we are focused on the wrong issue," Mantis says.

Is he just changing the subject because he doesn't want to account for his vote? You honestly can't tell.

"Based on Mudviper's information, it would appear that the recent poisoning outbreak was not the work of the Bogknights - or at the least, not a plan approved by their captain. In which case, should our most pressing concern not be to determine the actual cause?"

Razor growls.

"You know full well she's being soft on Long."

You clench your fists.

"Are you daring to suggest I would endanger the Marshguards just to protect someone I once knew? This fortress is my home as much as it is yours. I have nothing to go back to. If I betrayed the Marshguards, my only reward would be going back home to languish in a cell for the rest of my life."

"And what if I am suggesting that?" Razor gives the sort of smirk you've learned to despise. "All you've given me in response are words. I want something stronger than that if you're to stay among us."

Well. What else can you offer as an answer?