Kassom eyed the anti-magic cage as if he didn't quite trust it... then shrugged his shoulders. "I guess that'll have to do, then. I'll just need a few minutes." He tossed Bruin a shiny silver coin -- "For your trouble." -- then headed for the cage doors.
"Back wall of the cage, Torak. No funny business." Kassom instructed in a 'don't mess with me' tone of voice, pulling out and idly twirling one of his many throwing daggers in a vaguely threatening manner. When Bruin opened the door he stepped inside, the enchanted prison clanged shut behind him. "That was some gall you showed at the bar, trying to choke me out like that. You think I became the Lone Wolf because I play well with others and need Blood Wolves to watch my back? Guess again."
He continued to bluster threateningly until Bruin had left them alone, or at least gave the
appearance of leaving them alone. To assume naive trust from a fellow thief, even one playing guard, was just silly. Still, he could work the situation so that any prying eyes or eavesdropping ears would have a much harder time of it -- if Bruin managed to pick up the
real conversation amidst the Feral's planned cacophony, then she had
earned the right to listen in. For a few moments Kassom just glared coldly at the de-armored assassin... although Torak would likely notice that a change was coming over him. Kassom's red-hued fur was gradually draining of color, becoming a gritty shade of grey that seemed altogether unnatural. The change stopped about halfway, leaving Kassom looking like a bloodied monochromatic photograph of himself.
With a speed that even outpaced his own regular agility Kassom charged at Torak... and for a moment it looked as though he was just about intent on killing him. When the Feral's fist, somehow suddenly coated in steel, slammed noisily into the bars of the cage half a foot from Torak instead of the assassin himself, it became clear that a bit of a show was going on here.
"Play along... and make it believable." The words were a half-grunted whisper -- it was obvious in Kassom's voice that he was exerting himself with this non-magic power and had no patience for any shenanigans at the moment.
A change, barely perceptible but fearsome, came over Kassom's eyes as they glared at Torak -- a fiercer demeanor and a very slight glow of cold blue. An entirely
different voice whispered from Kassom's mouth,
"My host may have patience for you, assassin, but I do not."
"Not so tough without your fancy armor, eh killer? I always knew most of you assassins were just overdressed thugs --" He pounded the metal bars again. "--all bluster and no skill."
"You wish to redeem yourselves amongst the Wolves, very well. But your lack of subtlety has put much in jeopardy. Your 'Alpha' suspects foul play in his absence --"
Another bang against the bars, then another. Likely to Torak's surprise tendrils of living metal suddenly began to lash out from beneath Kassom's ragged clothes, creating yet further clamor and tumult to cover their conversation. The Feral leaned closer until he was practically whispering in Torak's ear.
"-- and has called on us to see that it is prevented. Use your mortal logic, and think hard. Who stands most to gain in a leader's departure? To whom would it most benefit should this 'Zahi' meet an unfortunate fate?"
"Is it not the very man you were so eager to pledge yourself to, blood spiller?"
The demon within Kassom paused in its diatribe to pull a trio of throwing blades from a hidden pocket. In its hand Torak would see the metal twist and morph, taking on the shape and design of a
dagger that was almost the length of a short sword. It was surreptitiously held out to Torak.
"Hide this. Use it to break the lock and escape. Since you fail to be subtle, be overt. Find Zahi -- draw as much attention as you can in the process. Lead those who would seek to harm her to her, and we will follow."
"Do this right... and we will vouch for you to the Alpha. Is it agreed?"
