The horde of rats and even the bears told Ishmael about the tag along but he ignored it, they were told to ignore it until the thing spoke to him. Ishmael had a good chuckle when one of his bears groaned about the smallness of the thing following them, so when it did speak the Rat King and his court came to a stop. The rats turned first while the bears took a little longer to sit and stare at the thing.

"which part?" Ish asked and them gave options to which he declared the women didn't mean, "the rebel rousing song or perhaps ruining my evening? I came for the music and piss swill your people make and she took that from me," he didn't sound mad. He looked the thing over.

Weylin stopped as soon as Ishmael did, leaving several more feet between them than was typical for a normal conversation between two people. Beth stood next to his feet, her body pressed to his calf, keeping weary eyes on all the creatures as well as the Eldouir.

Ishmael might not have sounded mad but it didn't keep Weylin from feeling intimidated and scared as if he was shouting angrily at him rather than just talking to him. His knees trembled noticeably as he replied. "All of it," he replied, "your highness majesty sir." What was he supposed to call him? He hadn't been around since the Eldouir had invaded and had not learned this. Though his arms were covered in long sleeves at the moment, if inspected he would be found to have zero marks from tribute or otherwise.

"She just loves music and couldn't help herself when you started to play. It was meant to be-" he swallowed, trying to figure out what he ought to say that might help Demelza. "more playfully competitive than a way to ruin your evening, your highness majesty sir."

"shut up," Ish replied dryly, "just shut up with the Majesty sir shite, please," the word please came out more acidic and hateful than Ishmael intended, "Ishmael is my name, and Ishmael is what you'll call me..."

Taking a few steps toward the thing and keeping his hands behind his back Ish began to walk around the Dresmondi, "Your woman friend will have plenty of time to decide how she wants to make up for her treasonous...foreplay...when Tribute comes and you'll do good to remind her," a demand from Ishmael and not a request or question either but that was for the thing to decide, "until then you'll be working for me."

Weylin flinched at the words 'shut up' and Beth moved closer to him, sitting up on her backside and wrapping her little paws around his calf. "Ishmael, okay," he said quickly, doing anything he could do appease the giant of a man. He unconsciously took a little stumbling step back as Ishmael started walking towards him but forced his feet to remain steady after that. He could feel Beth roiling up to defend them if she had to as both kept their eyes locked the man, turning in a circle so he was never at their back.

Foreplay? Weylin didn't like the use of that word and had no idea what Demelza could do to make up for it, especially as neither of them had ever attended tribute before. They would need to talk to some of the other dresmondi who knew what they were up against. He merely nodded fearfully at the demand but his eyes widened at the last demand. "Wha-what?" he stuttered.

"You. Will. Work," he spoke slowly and clearly taking time to articulate each word, "For. Me. Understood?" he paced around the small thing, "I hope you aren't that stupid child, I spoke slow enough this time for you to understand. If you want to earn a mark this year at Tribute then you'll do the leg work and serve me as I prepare for it, and either you are bold or stupid for your actions today but you want me to turn a eye...be smart."

Weylin, just agree with him.
'Well duh, you think I'd do anything else. What other choice do I have?'
None from what I'd guess.
'Exactly. Maybe it won't be so bad?'
I wouldn't count on that...

Weylin's wide, innocent eyes looked up at the large Eldouir fearfully but he tried to be brave. He swallowed and nodded his head. "Yes Sir- I mean Ishmael. What- what will I be doing for you?" he asked, wringing his hands together. Beth was back on all fours but she kept her flank pressed against Weylin's leg and her gaze way more focused on all of Ishmael's creatures as opposed to the Eldouir himself.

"What are your names?" Ishmael looked from the Dresmondi to its dyr, "and what does it do? Can you read or write?" he didn't expect a 'yes' answer to the last two questions but Ishmael needed a starting point, and if they proved capable they'd become a decent asset to Ish. While Hiram and the Queen's were away Ishmael was going to tighten a few things up with these savages perhaps make them more beneficial for the Eldouir family instead of watching them struggle to appease them, "As far as what you'll be doing...all I can say is we are going to cap a few holes in our ship so thaf perhaps your people won't drown."

Weylin swallowed, feeling Ishmael's overpowering presence as though it was physically pressing in on him. "Um, I'm Weylin and this is Beth. She controls darkness," he said, unsure if Ishmael knew all that darkness could entail but too afraid to try to explain in case he yelled at him for assuming he didn't already know. With a fearful tremble he nodded his head at the last question. "Yes, I can read and write okay," not explaining where he'd learned it.

As the Eldouir explained very vaguely about what he'd be doing he acted as if the Eldouir were there to save the Dresmondi rather than being their oppressors. It was confusing to the little dresmondi boy.

"You will report to me tomorrow Weylin and Beth," he looked from the dyr to the boy, "Be at the gates to the estate before dawn, tell the guards to send for me and I'll come to you. This will be your Tribute, understood?"

Weylin nodded his head quickly and cleared his throat to speak again, feeling a lump growing inside it. "Y-yes, I understand, Ish-Ishamel sir." What the hell was actually happening? Weylin hated not knowing what was going to happen, he was much more comfortable with routine, the not knowing was going to be torturous.