"Thank you kindly," the man said, turning away and leading towards the great hall. The din of the gathered crowd grew notably louder even as they traversed the throne room itself. "That is a shame, it's too difficult to go alone in the world. Unfortunately, this is not a very good place to be making friends." Wallace chuckled at the remark, being part of the political machine that it was in-fashion to deride the shrewdness of. Eventually they came upon one of the sets of doors into the great hall, secured by two of the regular guard who were watching the crowd inside with great interest. "I fear I must leave you here, Gareth. The security of this castle is one of my concerns, and I must continue to act to ensure that not only the assassins but all of the conspirators behind this dreadful act are brought to justice. Good evening, sir, may peace find you." The man smiled broadly and strode into the great hall, making his way towards the front of the room to chatter with the guards stationed there.

Gareth shrugged. "I suppose you're right." He didn't chuckle, finding the time a little inappropriate for laughter, but he did smile some at Wallace's remark. The crowd fully gathered in the great hall at last, Wallace and Gareth being of the final few to enter, and Gareth parted from Wallace with a wave. "As to you." A deep sigh exited Harker's mouth as he found himself a place to sit. Being formal and finding a group to sit with first was beyond him by that point, and he was coming to the stage of anguish where he would just want to have a good meal and beverage. Servants brought in salvaged food and wine from the outdoor feasts, this act an indication of the official move indoors. The festive nature of the feast, however, departed from the palace, and left a feast for surviving the hours until things were secured. No music would be played in the wake of something so publicly grim. Gareth poured another cup and said his thanks, raising it to nothing and drinking small bits of the wine every now and then. For the life of him, his eyes couldn't find Sophia and Jezin, or Thomas for that matter.

Sophia looked around the great hall, scanning for familiar faces. The ill-fitting coat around her shoulders very nearly drug the ground as she walked through the building. Her eyes finally found Gareth sitting at a table looking quite downtrodden. She silently took a seat next to the half-elf and reached out from underneath the oversized coat, grabbing a goblet, which shook in her hands. She picked up a nearby pitcher, but the violent shaking in her hands caused her to spill a bit of the bright red liquid on the table. She frowned, feeling completely obliterated by the day's events. She reached for the pitcher again, but Jezin lifted it before she could, calmly pouring her drink and taking a seat beside her before pouring one for himself. They both needed it, after what they'd seen. After a long drink, Sophia spoke, her voice sounding frail and dejected. "H-hello Gareth. Are you.... are you alright?" Her voice shook.

Sir Redwyne stood in the door way of the Great Hall, having dealt with Thomas, delegating his detainment to another knight of the Order of the Thistle. Redwyne scanned the room, seeing familiar faces, and panicked faces. As Sir Redwyne began to enter the room, he could hear large steps behind him. Redwyne knew who those large steps belonged to before he even turned around. A massive man walked in beside Redwyne, and stood next to him. The man was easily 6'6, and nearly 350lbs, with a massive black beard, and short black hair. The man wore no armor, for he was well too over sized for most armor, but managed to wear a leather jerkin that fit fairly snugly, along with a long sleeved light blue buttoned shirt, and blue trousers. The man was as fat as he was muscular, finding a happy balance between the two, "Sir Walden." Redwyne said, nodding to the man. While the man wore no armor or sign he was a knight, the man was indeed a member of the Order of the Thistle, taking over the administrative parts of the order, as well as many other issues. While he was mostly a quill pusher, Redwyne had seen the man cleave a man nearly in two with the giant axe the man was fond of using in battle, "Sir Redwyne, how are ya?" Sir Walden replied, with a booming and gruff voice. The two continued their stance in the doorway of the great hall, as they conversed, "What do you think of all of this, Sir Walden?" Redwyne asked, turning his attention back to the Great Hall. "Whatever it is, Arcartus will answer for it, one way or another." Sir Walden replied, as he too turned his attention to the crowd, "War has been the only thing that's united this country, and it's been the only thing we've ever been good at." Sir Walden pointed out.

Gareth appeared sullen and analyzed Sophia as she joined him. He read her terror instantaneously, but he found nothing on Jezin's face, seemingly stoic as ever in the face of this distress, even though Gareth knew Jezin was likely shaken up as well. "Why are you asking me? You look as though you've seen a ghost." said Harker slowly with concern. "I'm, honestly... anxious at the moment, but... I am a mere commoner." He dismissed any worry she might've had for him, for he was nothing more than your average Joe, and nothing could come out of his death besides bloodshed. He reserved his worry for Sophia, a princess of a foreign land called Lyok, whose murder could result in war and instability for both lands. The lack of a certain knight caused him distress, and he furrowed his brow. "Where's Thomas?" His eyes themselves trembled with anxiety.

Sophia glanced at Gareth, taking another short sip from her drink. She felt the liquid warm her stomach, but the feeling was barely helping her shaking hands. "I'm just... I'm trying to make sense of everything." She frowned when he said his position made him less important. "Royals, commoners, when things like this happen it doesn't even matter. We're all just people... scared people with no idea what's going on." She took another sip, wishing the drink would calm her nerves. Gareth's next question made sure that wouldn't happen any time soon. When asked about Thomas her hands began shaking more furiously than ever. She put her drink on the table, and any color that had returned to her face drained. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling as she tried to speak. "He... he... um... he killed... he killed someone... J-Jezin..." She looked to the bodyguard, tears welling up in her eyes again.

Jezin looked across the table towards Sophia and grimaced. He patted the princess on the back softly before downing nearly an entire goblet of wine in a single gulp. "I'm sorry Gareth, he's in custody. He killed a woman and he's suspected of other serious crimes." The bodyguard's voice was flat and emotionless, something that may have come off as a bit harsh, but the boy had a right to know what happened to his friend, and Sophia was in no shape to form a coherent answer. "We found him after the feast, and I took him to Sir Redwyne Cole. He'll decide what will happen to him I imagine." Jezin looked down the length of the great hall to see Redwyne standing at it's entrance with a giant of a man. The other man with Cole was unfamiliar to the Lyoki, but he seemed to know Cole, as they were having a conversation. He stared long enough that at least one of the men would likely notice him.

Sir Walden, as he was scanning the crowd, saw several eyes staring at him, but he noticed a particular pair staring him down, "I'll talk to you later, Sir Redwyne." Walden said, with his typical booming voice. He noticed the girl the man was with as Sophia Octavia, someone that had been noted by the Order of the Thistle. Walden made his way over to the duo, slightly waddling as he did. As Walden made it over there, he smiled to the man, and looked at the girl, "Hello, friends. I assume you're our very esteemed guests from Lyok? How is your mother, Princess Sophia?" Walden asked, his booming voice surging over the group, and his smile showing his bright white teeth. For such a massive man, Walden gave off the impression of a jolly and friendly man. He then turned his head to Jezin, stretching out a hand, "And you are the most skilled Jezin Tremora!" Walden boomed, "I watched your fight with Jon Easten! I was impressed with your skill with a spear!"

Gareth held her hand and hugged Sophia as he wept on her shoulder. He couldn't deny a knight's ability to kill, and he knew they told the truth. He didn't want to accept it, but in his mind he understood that he had no choice. "I can't believe he would do such a thing." quivered the boy. His hands themselves shook while they embraced. Harker looked up disheartened at the burly man that approached the trio, and in his face tears remained at the corners of his eyes above trembling lips. Tragedy ruined his normally-handsome face, and he released Sophia, rubbing his eyes and maintaining his innocent gaze at the knight.

Sophia wrapped an arm around Gareth, patting him gently on the head. "I'm so sorry Gareth..." She hugged him for a moment, releasing him when a large man approached the table. For a moment she was worried, afraid the man was there to ask more questions about the night's events when she was trying so hard to recover. Instead, his voice seemed to shatter the sense of dread hanging over the room, if only for a moment. He spoke with kindness, as if everything in the world was fine. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up to the man, forcing a smile. She had to compose herself, what would her mother say if she knew her daughter was falling to pieces in public? After taking a moment to gather her faculties, she replied to the knight. "Oh, greetings sir." Her smile seemed a bit less forced. The man seemed to emanate warmth, something she appreciated in such trying times. "My mother is doing quite well. Thank you for asking. Lyok is at peace, and the people love their Empress. She's busy, of course, always in meetings and the like, but she deals with it quite well, and her advisers are always helpful. She was very excited to make contact with Keilaudrin." The princess' voice took on a courtly tone, despite her disparaged state. While she spoke, she patted Gareth's hand reassuringly. She hadn't known the young man long, but she considered him a friend, and she worried for him.

Jezin's eyes gazed up at the wall of a man before him. He was quite large, and before he spoke his stature made him quite intimidating. The bodyguard half expected the man to begin interrogating them, but was surprised when he welcomed them warmly. He appreciated the change of mood. With the cloud of despair hanging over the room it was pleasant to see a friendly face. He shook the man's hand when it was offered to him, and smiled ever so slightly when the man mentioned the tournament match, something that felt like it'd taken place weeks ago even though it hadn't even been a day. "Oh you saw that, then? Thank you, I'm afraid it wasn't the best showcase, though." He chuckled slightly. Something about the man was reassuring, He looked from Sophia to Walden. Though he said nothing it seemed to be a silent gesture of thanks for brightening the princess' mood. "I don't believe I got your name." He was curious of the man's identity. Surely if he knew Cole personally enough to be chatting with him he was someone of relative importance.

Walden smiled as he was reassured that Sophia's mother was in fact doing well, and that Lyok was in a lull of peace, "I wish I could visit Lyok once more, but those here in Keilaudrin rather have me here in court." Walden said, smiling his normal toothy grin, each tooth appearing to be about the size of a eyeball. When Jezin asked his name, Walden's face was overcome with seemingly mock-despair, "How rude of me! I am Sir Walden Corenhall! I would bow for my introduction, but I fear my belly has prevented that kind of introduction for a while now." Walden boomed, his friendly and warm face back, and laughing at his own joke, his laughter nearly as loud as his voice. Walden's eyes made his way over to Sophia's companion, who seemed to be comforting the young girl, and who also looked shaken up, "And you might be, friend?" Walden asked streching out his hand for Gareth to shake, Walden recognized some minute details that suggested the young man was of Elven heritage, and smiled, "Was it your mother or father that was of elf blood, friend?" Walden asked, his toothy smile showing once more, giving him the impression of a goofy man, rather than that of a stout knight.

Gareth shook Walden's hand slowly with the hand that wasn't being held by Sophia. "Gareth, Gareth Harker..." spoke he quietly, projecting his voice just loud enough for Walden to hear. "My mother is." Harker didn't want to imply that either of his parents were dead, especially if they were alive and well enough to deliver him a tirade for speaking as though they were among the departed, and this thought he laughed at on the inside. He took his hand away from Sophia, wiping the wetness from his eyes. Sincerely he hoped the man wouldn't flock to discuss the dead man or attempt to address Sophia and Gareth's discomfort around Thomas as they both were trying to recover from events that only just occurred.

Sophia smiled when Walden introduced himself. "A pleasure to meet you, Sir Walden. It's nice to hear a friendly voice in times like these." She took another sip of the wine. Walden asked Gareth's name, and made the assumption that he was a half-elf, a fact Sophia had been ignorant of until now. She glanced at Gareth. Elves were rarely seen in Lyok. In fact, their rarity had led to the widespread belief that the race was something from a fairy tale, but she knew better. She had read books about the west, and knew elves existed, but she'd never met one in the flesh, not until now. She smiled. "I didn't know that, Gareth."

Jezin finished his glass of wine and began pouring a second one. "A pleasure, Sir Walden," the knight said, before taking another gulp of wine. He didn't feel even relatively drunk, despite the strength of the wine. It did calm his nerves, however, something he was thankful for. Walden had confirmed that he was a knight, something Jezin had all but deduced already. No armor, though, the body guard thought, before realizing the man was probably too large to fit in a standard suit. Plate was such a fickle thing. Difficult if not impossible to resize, heavy, uncomfortable. He was quietly thankful Lyok opted for scale armor. "So, Sir Walden, I imagine you're a member of the Order of the THistle as well?"

"Nice to meet you, Gareth Harker." Walden replied, with a smile, before turning his attention to Sophia, "Aye, there must always be those of kind hearts in dark times. It's the only thing that stops things from getting too grim." He said, with a slight chuckle, now turning to Jezin, smiling when he mentioned the Order of the Thistle, "I guess you could say I'm a member. I never took no vow, nor did I ever receive a nice cape to wear, but they call me Sir Walden of the Order all the same. I'm a volunteer for the Order. My father served as an advisory to King Bernard the Wolf, the man responsible for the military might that Keilaudrin now possesses." Walden explained, pride filling his voice as he spoke of Bernard and his father, "I handle all administrative and other issues a knight is not normally associated with." Walden said, with a smile, "Besides, I don't know if I could swear off girls and and spend every waking hour being as serious as they are." He said, booming out with nothing fit of laughter. Walden then turned his attention back to Gareth, "You look like a fit lad, and you don't look like a foreign dignartiy. Are you from here in Mullen?" He asked.

Gareth nodded at Sophia. "Yes, it's true." He thought she had already known, but he guessed not. He drank from his cup, and, setting it on the table, he swallowed slowly. Harker figured Walden, having not taken the oath, wasn't bound by the Order's typical rules and likely worked with Order paperwork mostly. Of course, given his stature and build, he also looked fit to break someone's neck when need be. These thoughts Walden affirmed in his dialogue with Sophia. He perked up again from his inner workings as Walden put the spot on the half-elf again. He chuckled at Sir Walden's calling Gareth fit, him finding it a little ironic given Walden's appearance and comedic given that Gareth wasn't exactly the strongest man on the block. "Ah... No, sir, from elsewhere in the country." A timid smile popped on his softly carved face, framed by a square jaw.

Payton sat a table in the Great Hall, having changed out of her armor and switched into a more loose fitting git up. A beige tunic, accompanied by loose light brown pant, along with cloth sandals. She sipped from a wine glass, no one sitting near her as she had made it a clear point to sit away from everyone else. Her eyes stared straight ahead, glazed over in the clarity of pure thought. Things warped in her head as she thought about what had happened, and what this all meant. She took a long swig from the glass of wine, her cheeks already rosy red from drinking too much of the beverage. Although she was her fair share of tipsy, she was thinking somewhat clearly. A trait she always loved about herself. No matter what her state was, she was always able to think with a clear head. She had already set her own plans in motion. Kol sat outside the Palace, securing transit for Payton if the need arose. But if it was up to Payton, she would not leave the Palace, or Keilaudrin, until she accomplished her goals, and found out the meaning behind the storm that was happening.

Jezin nodded as Sir Walden explained his position. It was the second time he had heard King Bernard mentioned that day. "Ah yes, Sir Redwyne mentioned the Wolf Lord as well, he sounds like quite the man." Jezin spoke with a friendly but respectful tone, a stark contrast against his harsh seriousness earlier. He smiled at the man when he mentioned that he would have trouble swearing all of the Order's oaths. After taking another sip of wine, Jezin chuckled and replied. "Yes, they all seem to take their oaths very seriously around here." He was still hesitant to trust anyone around him, but Sir Walden seemed genuine enough. At the very least, the man's friendly demeanor was a welcome relief after the night they had all experienced.

Sophia smiled when Sir Walden spoke. She nodded in agreement with his statement. It was true, if people allowed dread to overwhelm them they would surely descend into hopelessness. The words gave her hope. Even in such darkness there was hope. She smiled, taking a small sip of wine as she listened to the man speak of his position in the Order. He wasn't officially a knight, it seemed. The princess listened to his conversation with Gareth with interest. She was still surprised that Gareth was of elven descent, but decided to reserve questions about his heritage for a later time.

"Aye, the Wolf Lord was one of the greatest warriors, and leaders, this world has ever seen." Walden replied, with his trademark toothy grin, "As they should. You don't become one of the most excellent bodyguard details on Estovet by playing by the goose!" Walden boomed, chuckling as he did. He suddenly turned his attention to Gareth, still wearing his grin as he did so, "Well, then, you were born in Keilaudrin. Good!" Walden said, as he grabbed an empty glass and filled it to the top with wine from the pitcher, "Would you be so kind as to accept a position as a Official squire for the Order of the Thistle?" Walden said, his voice slightly more serious, "Don't worry. You won't have to swear off sex, or being rowdy and young. You only have to deliver messages and be in the real heart of what goes on around here. We need a reliable assistant! Especially me! Eating and drinking as much as I do makes one a lazy and sleepy man!" He said, his booming laughter carrying through the Great Hall.

"Really?" Gareth knew such a position wouldn't obligate him to stay, and that gave him the kind of mobility he wanted, an ability to quit when he desired other work. On the plus side, an internal job working with Walden wouldn't seem so bad. Walden was nice and charismatic enough, and he wouldn't be demanded to take up a binding oath. Harker chuckled, bringing his hands to his lips to catch his small laughter. "Oh... I would love to." The half-elf willingly accepted the proposition, and he hoped Walden would gladly take him in as an underling. Perhaps he'd do a wonderful job as an assistant. He already carried out numerous tasks for his neighbors, and that sort of stable job would fit what he already did.

"Excellent! You'll start tomorrow morning! Your new lodgings will be here in the Palace now! Hot meals, wine, and all the fun you can imagine from this day on, Mister Harker!" Walden said, reaching over and patting Gareth on the back with his brick-sized hands, that no doubt would shake Gareth, "A drink to honor your new appointment!" Walden took the glass he had just filled and, without even waiting for Gareth to grab his own glass, downed the wine in a single gulp, then proceeded to let out a short, uproarious burp that sent him into another one of his laughing fits, "Look at me! An old, fat fart burping and carrying on in the presence of a prestigious princess! Forgive me, my lady!" Walden said, grinning once more as he pouring himself another glass.

---

Thomas sat in a small, dark, and dank cell, resting against a wall. His eye had been treated, wrapped with snow white bandages that covered the burn marks, and destroyed eye. Everything in Thomas' life was flipped upside-down in a matter of minutes. He had killed Lexine, but now he was under investigation for conspiring against Bard II. Thomas sighed, knowing full well that even if he was proven innocent, Redwyne Cole would most likely dismiss him from service. Redwyne was not the kind of man to allow rash, and harsh decisions such as the one Thomas' committed to go without some sort of punishment. Under law, and the duty he had to fulfill as a member of the Order, he had done the right thing, and had possibly saved Bard II, but that would not save him from the judgement of Redwyne Cole. Redwyne expected his men to act, and proceed in a certain fashion, and any deviation was not looked on nicely. Thomas ran his fingers through his hair as he wondered what the others were doing; Gareth, Jezin, Sophia. He wondered if Jezin truly believed the allegations made against him, and wondered if his relationship with the man was tarnished forever. "No matter." Thomas thought, as he stood to his feet. "Once I am proven innocent in court, no one can question my actions." He was in the right. While he was rash, he was also right. No matter what the others had said.

Jezin nodded at Walden's comment. He caught a familiar face out of the corner of his eye. He noticed Payton sitting at a nearby table. "If you'll excuse me, I must beg my leave for a moment." He looked towards Sophia and nodded, a silent affirmation that he would be back by her side in an instant if the need arose. He stood up, carrying his goblet with him, and took a seat across from the now unarmored woman. He could tell my looking at her that she had been drinking a fair amount, but after the events of the night he could hardly blame her. After taking a sip of wine he spoke up. "Sorry for leaving you earlier, but duty called. It seems you made it back in one piece though." He gave the woman a slight smile, unsure of how she would react.

Sophia looked back and forth between Gareth and Sir Walden, surprised by the large man's offer. The half-elf seemed rather eager to accept the offer. The princess smiled, taking another sip of wine. Sir Walden seemed like a kind man, and she was sure Gareth would enjoy serving as a squire for him. She gave him a congratulatory pat on the back. She could feel the wine finally starting to take effect. She was glad the drink was alleviating her stress at last. Sir Walden congratulated Gareth. He belched loudly, apologizing to the princess. Sophia smirked. "Oh no, Sir Walden, I take no offense." She laughed softly.