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If nothing else, it seemed that Theonidas had a few things to mull over before he answered any of Athos' questions. It was a bit disconcerting. He seemed almost... unsure of what to say, and was filling the time between question and answer with a sort of silence that spoke of uncertainty.

But, as was the nature of time, the moment passed and Theonidas looked up at his partner, chin in the air, apparently ready to speak. But first, he gave a bit of a shrug then mentioned Shi's loyalty thusfar. He seemed to be wary about her as well... How she didn't contact the Crossed Swords, and the fact she'd indeed known much about it. When Theonidas mentioned them being cautious, Athos nodded his agreement, his own hair falling wetly into his face. He casually brushed it aside and took a deep breath through his nose, which he let out in a small sigh, as if gathering his thoughts.

"No, Theonidas, we don't like people who jump from side to side. It calls their loyalty into question, among other things." His hands, which were currently still clasped behind his back tensed and his shoulders bunched up slightly; the man was getting angry. "Shi's playing at something on her own agenda." He said curtly, the air gaining a physical chill as he spoke. His eye gave an ever so small twitch when the Reaper mentioned the fact that Shi had found him before Athos. Was he offended? Of course. Was he going to admit it? Not until the other six layers of hell were too covered in ice.

"She found you and made no mention to anyone about it, nor took action of which we both know she was capable. How long, Theonidas, did she wait to awaken you?" He cocked an eyebrow, his lips pursed into a thin line on his face. "This Tank they speak of had friends... Friends I assume fought for your safety, at least to a point. Otherwise Forte would have had them taken care of. And Shi, at least at first, did nothing to stop them. They might not have known, but they were trying to stop your transformation, to save Tank." He nearly spat the last word out, the usual calm in his voice being lost for a split second.

Athos stopped himself and glanced over his shoulder, in the general direction that the two trapped outside were watching. It was only then that he'd sensed them... And for that he inwardly kicked himself. He'd let himself forget there were still two beings outside. But, that was now noted, and he turned his attention back onto the Reaper.

"You've been gone a long time, Theonidas. And Shi hasn't been seen for almost as long. She left no mention of where she was going, and in her absence, quite a lot changed. Did you know that the ones responsible for our birth are dead?" Athos let his hands fall to his side and he walked toward the fallen angel, his voice dropping to a chill whisper. "Our leader had different plans for you when you returned. He'd grown soft. Needless to say he was taken care of, but that shifted everything. I'm second from the top now, in YOUR place, Theonidas, because you were gone. Shi had plenty of time to alert us to your presence. Everything we've worked for is falling apart," He paused, his teeth aching from how tightly his jaw was closed. "And I have been searching you out in order to remedy that." he said through clenchted teeth.

Again, the pale man paused, sweeping his hand through his hair in an almost aggrivated way, then letting his arm fall to his side. Athos' words found their normal tone and lack of emotion when he spoke again. "We are going to keep an eye on her. I will NOT allow any sabotage against the Swords. If that happens, your cause will be lost. OUR cause will be taken from us. Do you understand that?" Oh, no. There was no way Athos was going to let this slip from his grasp. It had been too long a journey, too much thought and planning and work on his part to let something unexpected and unmanagable happen. "We should go inside. Our eavesdroppers might have heard something they shouldn't have." His tone said that he wouldn't even have to mention retribution about that, should he find out they did indeed hear.

The man planned on taking care of them soon either way.

Theonidas's eyes slid to one side, watching Waru and Lyra make haste into the night. He let Athos's words absorb into his mind, nodding shallowly. "Dear Leader is dead, huh. Well, I have no doubts that he deserved it. I'm assuming you are the one that served him that platter, my friend." Athos was a well-known, skilled, and swift killer. He did his work without any real emotion, which made him very dangerous. One moment he could be chatting with your over coffee, the next, he could be putting a hole in your skull. Theonidas knew that Athos was potentially both a dangerous ally, and a dangerous foe, but he had no reason to fear the man.

The people who had raised Theonidas, Amadeus, Athos, and many of the other members of the Swords had once been a covert group that did all it's business in the shadow of night and confusion. They were brilliant minds, all geared toward creation, designation, and eventually, an iron first over the world. They weren't your stereotypical "try to take over the world" people though. They were trying to make the world better, to build it in their own image.

They'd created Crossed Swords as a matter of both protection and offense. Crossed Swords would destroy the world, and then rebuild it. Now with the original creators dead, there was an intense need to reorganize. Theonidas had to venture the guess that Athos had been self-elected to find him so that they could get the rehabilitation underway. Theonidas paused to wonder how things were going back at the Swords' compound. If Christophe had escaped, how many others had? How wary should the old Grim Reaper be of people jumping out of the bushed to put an end to his life?

Somewhere, from a distance, came the long, sad howl of a wolf, and Theonidas's eyes narrowed. People were everywhere not. Werewolves were prowling the night, other night dwellers were hidden in pockets of darkness, and the cold was pressing in from every angle. Suddenly, Theonidas became very aware that he and his companion were far from being alone.

"All walls have ears, Athos," he said in a very low voice, almost inaudible over the rain. "It's time we had sense enough to come in out of the rain." He teleported, taking Athos with him and reappeared in the loft he'd occupied above the Tavern.

Upon reappearing, he staggered, winded by the energy it took to move himself and people through time and space like that. He steadied himself against the wall, releasing a breath. He looked at Athos, who was dripping puddles onto the wooden floor. Dry clothing, maybe something eat would be a bonus in his situation, but Theonidas was dizzy and lightheaded from his recent strain and only said, "I believe the best course of action would be to eliminate the potential threat that rests here in Dark Haven, and the return home."

"Well maybe the fact she put Elure and myself under a spell is a good pointer as to her untrustworthiness," shouted Rien after Nolah, as she ascended. She turned back. "I was ready to trust Shi before she put us under that spell. And anyway, how does Nolah know Amadeus is dead? We saw them vanish... we don't know what happened up there!"

With that, she followed Nolah with the struggle to get out.

"Come on Christophe," said Elure, offering his hand in a truce. He then followed his sister energetically.

Nodding at Shi, he thanked her again for the tea, and then walked to the well opening and flew up.