Ballog could barely conceal a victorious grin as Thaddeus walked past him, obviously wanting to avoid meeting with the General. If there wasn't any possibility of being heard he would have let out a hearty laugh. Despite all appearances the General was much smarter than he appeared to be. After all, he wouldn't have become a General if he wasn't smart enough. Although when it came to alcohol and wine he often lost all sense of logic even before drinking.

He quickly walked down the hallway, left the castle, and proceeded towards the nearest bar he could think of. That was, after all, the only place Zoran could be if he wasn't at the castle. It seemed that today would be in his favor as he spotted Zoran about to enter the bar. "General," he called out, causing the man to look around in search of him. "It's been far too long," he said, stopping in front of the taller man.

The General was a man of large stature, standing nearly a head taller than Ballog with a muscular body. His piercing emerald eyes stared down at Ballog, as though trying to remember who he was. After a few moments his eyes widened in realization as he wrapped an arm around the smaller man and let out a hearty laugh. "I almost didn't recognize you there Ballog. You're not as scrawny as you used to be. That and you've stopped stuttering."

"The only reason I stuttered back then was because you were so much larger than I was all those years ago," Ballog commented calmly, lifting the General's large arms off his shoulder. "Sad to say that this meeting isn't meant to be as joyous as I wanted it to be."

"Bah you're still too serious. Come on, let's have a drink," he offered merrily, placed his arm around the smaller man yet again and began to lead him towards the bar only a few feet away. "You did promise we'd go get a drink together the next time I'm in the area."

"That I did my friend, that I did," he said, remembering that promise very clearly as he stopped walking and removed the General's arm from his shoulder the second time in five minutes. "And I'll have you know that I'm not as serious as I used to be about my job. It's just that I do have a good reason to be so serious at the moment. And I will need your help if my plan is to succeed."

"Let me guess," Zoran began in a more serious tone and began leading Ballog once again, away from the bar this time. "This has something to do with the Queen, doesn't it?"

"Sharp as always and yes, this is why I came to look for you."

The pair went silent at that moment, Zoran leading Ballog into a building that the latter knew to be an inn. They proceeded into Zoran's room where they continued their conversation after both men had sat down around a small table. "The Queen isn't suited to rule, not as she is," Ballog stated, to which the General merely nodded as Ballog interlaced his fingers and placed his chin on his hands. "I have come up with a plan that could turn her into a more suitable ruler but I will need your help. But both of us must remain clear of suspicion if we are to pull this off."

"I see. But what kind of plan is it?" Zoran asked. "And why come to me? Surely there are those in the castle who can aid you in this endeavor. And what of the Queen's possible suitors? Surely one of them can rule this Empire."

"I came to you because you are the only one I trust enough to relay my plans to. I know there are those who wish to help the Queen, but I do not know if they have the conviction to go through with my entire plan. As for the Queens suitors... quite frankly I don't trust any of them and I doubt I ever will," he confessed. "Lords from across the land could be trying to take advantage of this to take the throne for themselves. As for those who were chosen by others or those who came to test their fortune, I highly doubt any of them know how to rule an entire empire."

Zoran could understand the younger man's worries, he truly did. But it only made him wonder even more why the advisor came to him. It was more than just a matter of trust, at least until he told Zoran his plan. Then perhaps he would understand better the need for trust.

"Just as you must walk before running and crawl before you walk, a man must learn how to serve before he can lead. A ruler must know how the empire works from the inside out and what better way to learn than to be a subordinate of the previous ruler. I'll wager anything and everything I have that I could find a more suitable ruler among the people of the land than those who are trying to wed the Queen."

"I know you're one of the late King's advisors, and thus the Queen's advisor, but I think you're overreacting even if just a little." stated Zoran with a bit of worry evident in his voice. "Surely at least one of her suitors could become a suitable ruler to the land."

"You are correct," Ballog replied, causing Zoran to wonder why he agreed so easily. "It is as you say, at least one of her suitors could become a suitable ruler."

'Well that explains it,' thought Zoran.

"But what we need is someone who can rule the land now," Ballog stated firmly, looking up to Zoran with determined eyes. "We don't have time to teach her suitors and testing them to see if they are indeed suitable will not prove anything unless the test is the kind that is truly happening. Anyone can answer questions, but can they give those same answers when they are tested in the middle of a conflict where a moment's hesitation will lead to defeat?"

Zoran sighed heavily, knowing that what the younger man was saying was true, every word of it. "So what is this plan you've come up with? It must be something big if you're going to try and turn the Queen into a better ruler instead of just finding one."

"The plan itself..." Ballog paused and looked down at the floor, a dark look appearing on his face. "The plan is a dangerous one. If it fails I will surely lose my life, you as well if they discover that you are a part of it, regardless of the fact that it was done to try and help the Queen. Knowing this, will you still help me?"

"Ha! Of course I'll still help you. Even if the Queen declares you a traitor I'd still help you even if it meant losing my title as General. It's all that it is anyway, a title. So tell me, what do you need from me?"

A faint smile appeared on Ballog's lips upon hearing those words. Those words were enough proof for him that he had made the right decision in seeking the man's help. "I need you," he began, looking back up to Zoran's eyes with determination. "To help me stage a coup."

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