>>5138722Peng made no reaction to the implicit jab save for a slight uptilt of the corner of her mouth. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
The two women continued sipping their tea in silence as the convoy of pilgrims continued traveling, their path growing inevitably closer to the two women before slowing down with reasonable caution and stopping to a standstill, wary of the implicit roadblock Peng and Sathriel might impose upon their pilgrimage. In Peng's eye, a fog of black and violet started to accumulate about the group's feet. Fear and apprehension. Moments pass in silence as the group of pilgrims dared not to take a step forwards as Peng and Sathriel watch on in expectation, until a lone Canary fluttered forwards before landing on the tabletop.
"Hello there little sisters, are you coming or going?" Peng greeted with a smile.
"Going." replied the Canary's Hive Mistress "The question that I would like to ask of you though is: Are you truly friendly or is your friendliness merely a facade for banditry?"
"Oh rest assured little sister, the two of us have already hunted a nearby amalgam, the path ahead is safe to travel. Besides, my friend here would be quite cross if we did stoop to such lows as banditry." assured Peng with a smile before pausing at the thought "Although it is odd to see the upsurge in reports of attacks on fellow daughters..."
"Must be that irritating pack of 'musicians'." muttered Sathriel.
"You mean the ones from Bremmen?" asked Peng, Sathriel nodded downing her cup.
"Oh where are our manners? I am Peng Ching, the Scarlet Sage. You may call me 'Peggy' if it suits you. And my friend here is Sathriel, the Obsidian Arbiter."
The pilgrims' mood visibly shifted turqoise upon hearing Peng and Sathriel's epithets, relief and calm breaking down black apprehension. Peng smiled.
"Oh praise be the Savior's grace." sighed the Hive Mistress. "She would be delighted to hear this. My name is Quill, the leader of this humble flock of pilgrims."
"And here I thought Jesus was exempt from the Crucible." mused Peng.
"Maybe it's Jesus's mother that came back instead of the messiah himself." Sathriel replied wittily.
"Well that certainly would be something!" laughed Peng. Fortunately, Peng cut her laughter short upon sensing the mood of the crowd during a dark sour green.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, that was rude of us. May I ask who the purpose of your travels?"
"We're on a pilgrimage to the site of our Savior's origin." replied Quill. "We would be honored if the Sage and the Arbiter were to join us in pilgrimage an provide security."
Peng and Sathriel looked at each other. "Another cult." muttered Sathriel with a frown.
(cont).
