[IC] When the Flames Die

[Sightles]

Thomas smirked, slightly, as the anger in Jezin polluted his voice, "Honor and justice has nothing to do with my duty when it comes to taking care enemies of the state, sir." Thomas replied, as he slowly reached for the billfold in the inside of his shirt, the one that contained the names of 5 other people here, that were working with Lexine, "She was not a woman, nor was she a man. She was a threat. I did not abandon my king. She came to the midnight feast, armed to the teeth. No person without a devious cause would arm themselves as she did." Thomas stated, his voice still keeping even, "She revealed her true intentions to me, and when I revealed that I was going to have her arrested, she resisted. The brawl got out of hand, and I had to do what I had to do. As you can see, she was still armed in the interrogation room, and I was not. We had promised each other to enter unarmed." Thomas went on, his voice still staying as level as before, holding eye contact with Jezin. He held the billfold out in front of him, "Inside you will find the names of co-conspirators to the crown of Bard II. This was a subterfuge movement meant to accomplish some plan dealing with Bard II. It was my duty to investigate, and when the woman escalated matters, I did what I did." Thomas further explained himself, as he raised his hands up after handing over the billfold, "The Order of the Thistle hasn't protected the royal family by preventing an assassination of a single member of the royal family for 150 years by playing by the rules against those who don't play by them." Thomas finished, as his visage kept it's iron-like look.

[Epsir]

The throne room was mostly empty, save for a few other strays who had managed to make it into the palace before the guard managed most of the people into the great hall. They'd no doubt be there soon to correct things, but for the moment the empty throne room was as silent as a tomb. A slim, gaunt man sporting a short head of brown hair, too young for his age, stepped up in front of the throne and began to speak. His voice was a honeyed, croaking tone that seemed older than he, and he strained to make himself across the room even in its current state. "Valued guests, your attentions if you will." He smiled toothily. "In the interest of understanding and controlling the panic you no doubt feel, the guard wishes to explain what has happened tonight." The man on on the raised ground paused for a long time, making sure those in the throne room had time to either enter of gather themselves. "As it is, perhaps, already apparent to you, an assassination attempt on our beloved king has been thwarted and the rogues responsible for such an assault on our sacred peace are now apprehended successfully by the brave knights of our Order of the Thistle. Your safety is our concern, and to guarantee it I ask only your cooperation with our brave guardsmen, when they arrive." He bowed his head respectfully, waiting for whatever questions the few strays might have had.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin's eyes narrowed when Thomas called him 'sir'. His gaze refused to falter. "These documents are not mine to examine, Thomas. They will be delivered, along with yourself, to Sir Redwyne." He took the billfold and placed it in his coat pocket. Jezin kept the tip of the blade at Thomas' throat, fully prepared if the knight made any kind of attack. "It's funny, though, that you mention her 'devious cause'. I spoke to this woman at the tournament. She claimed to be a bodyguard for one Karl Leid. As you've been in here smashing her skull into a pulp, you'll be unaware that this man was thrown from the Tower of the Thistle mere moments ago. Perhaps all you did was murder a bodyguard, which would mean her charge's blood is on your hands as well." Jezin's faced remained unshakably serious. "Also, you made a point about her being armed... but none of those knives were used against you. They're clean, and you have no wounds from a blade." The Lyoki spoke one last time, with more venom than before. "I see no knight before me, Thomas, only a murderer. You will come with me. Now." He pressed the tip of Harmony's blade against Thomas' chin.

[Sightles]

Thomas kept his steely face as he stared at Jezin, "Very well. Sir Redwyne will judge me honestly and justly, and see that I have done the realm a good deed." Thomas spoke, as he inched his chin away from Harmony, "Were you trained to believe everything anyone told you, or do you only believe those that have cunts? I guess your pride would prevent you from acknowledging them as an actual threat. I dealt with her before she could reach for the blades. When someone stands up from their seat rather quickly, reaching for there boot, it's not normally to offer you a pastry. I was simply quicker on the draw." Thomas added, sighing as he did so. Karl Lied was dead, but from what she had told him, she wasn't actually the man's bodyguard, "Tell me Jezin. Why would Karl show up now, with an entourage of 'bodyguards' to a coronation celebration he was welcomed to, when he didn't attend the celebration of the last king? Perhaps Karl had a more sinister plot that backfired on himself. Furthermore, would I of opened this door for you, of all people, if I had committed a murder in cold-blood?" Thomas pointing out, "Maybe you are becoming angry because I am making too much sense for my seemingly dishonorable action?" Thomas added, once more as his voice became slightly more agitated, "There's a place where they honor every man who fought fair. He even gets his own little tombstone." Thomas said, reciting what his father had told him, "There is a time and place to fight like a knight, and a time and place to fight like a street urchin."

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin gritted his teeth. "I'll leave you to him, then, and we shall see just how good your deed was." Jezin raised the blade a bit higher when Thomas raised his chin away from Harmony's tip. A slight smirk crossed his face when Thomas devolved into throwing insults. "You're welcome to give your regards to every woman I've ever put in the grave, Thomas." He maintained his glare at Thomas. "Karl Leid and his entourage are none of my concern." He turned the blade again. "My concern is the fact that you have smashed another person's head into a stone wall until they fucking died." He took a step back, smirking at Thomas' last statement. "Careful what you say. A street urchin would slit your throat where you stand." He motioned for Thomas to come out. "Let's go to Sir Redwyne. If you make the slightest move towards one of the knives on the floor I will put this sword through your back faster than you can blink." He motioned behind him. "Sophia, come along. Stay behind me."

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth found himself in the throne room again, the same place where he met Karl Leid, just as the man delivered his announcement before the throne. On the floor against the wall he sat, wiping tears from his face pitifully. He hadn't the slightest clue of the whereabouts of Thomas, Jezin, and Sophia, but Leid, he knew, was dead in the courtyard. He wept, his breath breaking and mouth making choked noises, for he was afraid and deeply saddened. Amazing, he thought, for the place he came to with joy and new friends the night before ended up being the place he fled to alone with fear. What happened in the courtyard was a mess. Each passing moment occurred so quickly his mind could barely recall the exact timeline of events. A tangled ball of thoughts filled his head while tears traced their marks on his face.

[Sightles]

Thomas smirked, once more, at Jezin's statemen, "You're too focused on her I kill the threat, rather than what I accomplished." Thomas replied, as Jezin went on, "Sir Redwyne, and my King Bard II, will see that I served the realm, and that's all that matters when it comes to protecting the last of his line." Thomas replied, as he stepped forward, and allowed himself to be led on by Jezin, "I will await to be proven in a trial, and then you shall seen my nature. I hope we can still be friends, after all of this. You are an honorable, and good man, Jezin, but I was trained to kill without honor when it came to those who would harm my king," Thomas added, sorrow slightly hanging onto his voice. The thought of grabbing a knife never entered Thomas' mind. He had no intention of resisting Jezin's impromptu arrest. What Jezin was doing was what Thomas would do in his situation, and he could not blame him for that, "She told me she was a killer hired to kill someone here, and that she was apart of a bigger group. I admit I acted rashly, but I acted in service to my King." Thomas finished, his voice somber, and serious, as he was lead on by Jezin.

[Epsir]

Wallace Canti stepped down from in front of the throne as the regular guard shuffled into the room from behind him and a few of their investigators began to ask around. He strode down the room, his dark blue coat trailing behind him as he swiftly made for the exit. A sight on his left stopped the man, a younger man propped against the wall and looking despondent. He recognized the youth as the one who had been conversing with Karl Leid in this room, when he had pulled Lexine aside. Young, faithful Lexine, the tin soldier. Such a shame she hadn't been at the feast, otherwise his job would have been easier. "Say now, that's no expression for youth to be wearing. Are you hurt, lad?" He offered a hand down to the boy, aiming to help him stand. What he had now was a front row seat to hard earned anguish and turmoil, but something was off. Unexplained absences. Perhaps someone who had an even closer seat than he would have the answers, although, he doubted anyone had seen Karl Leid in the past day.

[ravenDivinity]

Harker looked up with his ghastly face, finished crying but still with a shaky voice. "No." He stifled, his voice wobbly. Despite his anxieties, he, trusting the man before him based on his attitude, reached up and grabbed Wallace's hand, appreciating the leverage in helping him stand. Gareth fixed his attire and coughed. "Mm... Thank you..." The half-elf appeared rustled by prior happenings, his face grim and pallid and his eyes, which he rubbed, looking dead and reddened by salty tears; it was no mystery, the events of before would leave anyone crestfallen.

[Epsir]

"I fear it is my job to pry, although by that I am to understand you knew the late Mr. Leid," He bowed his head a moment in silence, a gesture of respect for the dead man. "It would be... untoward to ask anything of you so soon, but might I ask your name that I may find you in later, better days?" He flashed his smile, pure starry white and broad as he posed his questions. Always with a smile. However many decades he'd kept this up for that was always the rule. The man's face blanked as he paused however, in affected surprise. "Ah, but where are my manners. My name is Wallace Canti, one mere adviser to the king." He looked over Gareth with an air of concern, checking to make sure he truly was as alright as he said. The guardsmen left the pair of them alone for the time being, handling the other people in the room and directing a few towards the great hall. They seemed to believe that Mr. Canti had things handled on his end. Whatever thunder there had been outside had stopped, and a few stray columns of smoke floated up into the night sky, illuminated by the lights of Mullen underneath them. Streaks of orange and yellow on the black sky, visible through the open doors of the throne room.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin remained silent for a while, leading the Knight of the Thistle outside and towards the center of the courtyard, where a few stragglers were still being led by various guards to the great hall. When they reached what was roughly the halfway point between the interrogation room and the great hall, and after Thomas finished his spiel, the bodyguard finally spoke. "In such situations prisoners are usually much more useful than corpses." He still couldn't wrap his mind around all the events of the night. First a man had been thrown to his death, and now a man he had previously seen as a friend had brutally murdered a woman. He couldn't shake the fact that if Thomas' story were true, the natural course of action would've been to restrain the woman. The difference in size and body weight had been vast, surely it wouldn't have been difficult for the knight to restrain her... unless that was never his intention. He glanced for a moment behind him, where Sophia followed quietly, her eyes glued to the ground. He could still see tears rolling down the princess' cheeks, even though she remained silent. The entire ordeal had shaken her up quite a bit. Knowing his current predicament would look incredibly suspicious, being a foreigner essentially holding a Knight of the Thistle hostage, he decided to forgo any attempt to search on his own. Jezin raised a hand and called to the nearest guard and motioned to both the sword in his hand and to Thomas. "I mean you no harm whatsoever, but I need to see Sir Redwyne Cole immediately." He kept the blade pointed at Thomas' back, but the voice he spoke with was significantly more calm than the one he had used earlier. "There's something he needs to know."

[Sightles]

Thomas allowed himself to be led on, putting his hand down to his side. The sharp pain from his eye was setting it, giving him a bad headache. It was likely he'd never see out that eye, again, and likely that he'd carry burn scars on the area around his eye. Even if he was proven a hero for his actions, there was no future left for Thomas in the Order of the Thistle. Despite everything the Order had done in the previous 150 years, Redwyne a Morningstar, and Jezin was right. She would of been worth more as a prisoner, and Redwyne would know that. He would never allow someone who took another person's life like that, even in self-defense, to stay in the Order. Redwyne would more than likely even demand a trial before the King to judge Thomas.

---

The nearest guard eyed the situation suspiciously, but nodded when Jezin mentioned he must be taken to Redwyne Cole. The guard secretly hoped this was the man who had committed the crime, but upon closer inspection, it was Sir Thomas, of the Order of the Thistle, and Harmony was in Jezin's hand. The guard, however, dutifully nodded, and led the way to the Tower of the Thistle, which was currently under investigation by multiple members of the Order, including Redwyne, "One moment." The guard said, as he entered the Tower door, shutting it behind him. After a few moments, the door opened once more, With Redwyne Cole stepping out. A look of surprise overtook his face, as he took in the scene before him, "You will lower your blade, Jezin, and you will explain why you have brought Thomas before me, and why Thomas looks the way he does." Redwyne said, slowly and seriously, his hand on his blade.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin followed the guard to the Tower of the Thistle, entering the tower with Sophia trailing a few feet behind. He nodded when the Morningstar told him to lower the blade. The bodyguard brought the brilliant white sword to his side and cleared his throat. "Sir Redwyne. I thought after what I witnessed you'd be the person to speak with." He eyed Thomas for a moment before looking back towards Cole. "After the events this evening, I took Sophia and fled, attempting to find somewhere safe during the chaos. We went to the interrogation room you'd taken me to earlier this evening. I was surprised to find the door locked and a number of weapons lying outside." The Lyoki glanced towards Harmony, which he still held in his right hand. "I knocked on the door and requested for Thomas to open it, recognizing his sword. After a while, he did." Jezin's face grew grim. "When he opened the door, I saw that he was injured, and noticed the furniture in the room had been overturned, suggesting a struggle. Against the far wall, I saw the body of one Lexine Tristan, a woman I met earlier at the King's tournament. Her head had been smashed repeatedly into the stone. Apparently during the struggle she blinded Thomas somehow, hence his injury." The bodyguard paused before continuing. "I questioned Thomas about what I saw, and he said he had determined Lexine was an enemy of the state, and dealt with her as he saw fit, he also claimed she made a move to attack him, and had brought weapons in despite being asked not to. I saw these weapons, three knives, all in their sheathes. If you inspect Sir Thomas you will be hard pressed to find any wounds from a blade. It is my belief that at least a portion of Thomas' story is a fabrication, as if she were, as Thomas says, a conspirator against the crown, taking her alive should've been his top priority. Also, there's this." Jezin reached into his coat pocket, removing the billfold and handing it to Redwyne. "Thomas claims it contains the names of other conspirators against the crown, I have not examined it, I figured such a task was better left to yourself." Jezin looked at Redwyne with the same seriousness he had maintained throughout. "Oh, and one more point. When I spoke with Lexine earlier today, she said she was the bodyguard of a 'Karl Leid'. If I'm not mistaken this is the man who fell from this very tower earlier this evening." The bodyguard's emotionless tone gained a bit of venom. "I thought the right thing in this situation would be to bring Thomas to you, and let you judge the actions of your knight. You'll find the body of Miss Tristan, along with all of her belongings, in the interrogation room."

[Sightles]

Redwyne remained slightly for a moment, as he listened to Jezin's side of the story, before turning to Thomas. Thomas gave Redwyne a small nod, revealing that Jezin's side of the story was told with truth. Redwyne let out a sigh, and took the billfold a from Jezin, "You did well, Jezin." Redwyne spoke, as he flipped open the notebook. A wave of concern and worry washed over Redwyne's face, as examined the billfold. Slowly, he lifted his head up from the billfold and locked eyes with Thomas, then with Jezin, "5 Royal Arcartus Scouts. Captains, leaders of 5 different companies." Redwyne stated, being fairly familiar with the exploits of the skilled Scouts. Redwyne looked at the two of them, concern still on his face, "This most likely a move by the Arcatus government." Redwyne stated, simply. Arcartus had been attempting to conquer the rest of the continent for years, by now, and now it seemed the huge country had turned it's attention on Keilaudrin. Redwyne shut the billfold, letting it remain in his hand. "As of right now, it's your word, Jezin, against Thomas'. It seems entirely possible, given Thomas' training that he would be able to act before Lexine drew a weapon." Redwyne went on, eyeing down Thomas, "But due to misconduct in dealing with an enemy of the state, someone you could of restrained, rather than kill, I am placing you under investigation." Redwyne explained. Thomas had expected as much from Redwyne, and Thomas dutifully nodded, accepting the terms, "However, if what this is implying is true, Sir Thomas. You are a national hero." This caught Thomas' attention, as he perked his head up. Redwyne then turned his attention to Jezin, "Your suspicions are not unfounded, Jezin, but I can not take your word over Thomas', nor his word over yours. The evidence laid out in front of me suggest that Thomas knew Lexine was a possible threat, and took her to be investigated. It got out of hand, and Thomas acted rashly, but, " Redwyne shook the billfold in his hand, "Had he failed to restrain Lexine and it got worse, Thomas would likely be dead, and this Lexine person would no doubt be enacting further schemes." Redwyne further went on, "While, I can not abide by the action Thomas took, I can not condemn him for acting in service to his King, which is what all evidence suggest." Redwyne finished, as he pulled out a pair of manacles from behind his white cloak. "That being said, you are under investigation for misconduct when dealing with a possible threat, and under investigation for conspiring against the crown of King Bard II." A grim face came over Thomas, as he was manacled by Redwyne, his eye darting from Redwyne, to Jezin, but remaining speechless.

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth frowned at the name, yet he bowed in remembrance and respect as well. He knew Wallace was likely required to honey his voice and maintain a helpful visage, but Harker dismissed it and played along as though Wallace's kindness was purely genuine and had nothing else behind it. The half-elf nodded, and his voice came out more silvery than before, him having assuaged his problems on the surface while they boiled on the inside. "Ah... Pleasure to meet you, Wallace." Gareth bowed. Even as he spoke, his smooth voice still inflected some tone of nervousness about speaking to another. "Gareth Harker." Again there he was, being comforted by a stranger.

[Epsir]

"And I am pleased as well, Gareth," the man said, opting to mime his other's form of address. "I knew the man myself, you see, worked with him some few years ago. An absolute shame what petty squabbles between nations will cause people to do." He shook his head, perhaps scolding the newer generation and the brashness they went at life with. Around him, the room was emptying, and he was taking notice. Time was just about up, the main congregation in the great hall would be expecting something more by now. Perhaps they had tangible showpieces already, he'd have to recall Sir Redwyne and ask. Finding the king was something that could wait for later. They'd more or less prepared for this. Wallace mulled over his words in silence for a moment, before saying, "Perhaps we should be making our way to the great hall, with the rest of them? I must return to my work, and I imagine someone like you has loved ones he needs to find. I am sorry for what we allowed to transpire tonight, but feel so relieved to see that all but one of our guests will walk away with their friends and family."

[ravenDivinity]

"Yes, ah, times are dangerous." Gareth nodded, finding the political landscape quite nonsensical. Looking around, he found himself and Wallace the last in the room besides the guardsmen, and he knew he had to leave into the great hall where the rest of the crowd awaited. Silently he discerned the right choice of words, then spoke. "Yes, indeed we shall go, for a tragedy has occurred this evening." Harker paused, recalling he was alone in the city, as his family lived in another large city in the realm, and he came to Mullen alone recently, himself having no true friends there yet. "Ah, no worry... I have neither family nor friends, here in Mullen." Perhaps it was good, in that foreboding hour, to not have any nearby loved ones, and to have your mind clear of none other than attached acquaintances.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin's eyes narrowed when he heard mention of Arcartus. What were they doing in Keilaudrin? He listened to the remainder of Redwyne's speech, frowning at the phrase 'national hero', but keeping his mouth shut. The frown continued until Redwyne finished speaking. When he mentioned the Thomas was under suspicion for conspiracy, the bodyguard's eyes widened at the Morningstar's words. Conspiracy. He glanced at Thomas with confusion before looking back to Redwyne. What in the hell had he just walked into? Jezin regained his composure, looking to Redwyne again. "Right then, I'll leave you to this, then... Oh, and here's his sword." Jezin tossed Harmony into the air, catching it by the blade and extending the hilt towards Sir Redwyne. "Speaking of which, I'd like mine back as soon as possible. In the meantime, I suppose we should head to the great hall?"

Sophia stood silently behind Jezin and Thomas, her eyes glued to the floor for most of the conversation. She heard something about conspiracy and glanced up. Was Thomas a traitor? Everything was so confusing. She had been enjoying herself at a feast only moments before, and now everything had fallen to pieces. Her arms hung by her sides. She raised a single hand and wiped the tears from her eyes, though her face was still drained of color, and she was having to use every faculty available to restrain her own shaking.

[Sightles]

Redwyne took Harmony, by it's hilt, and allowed it to rest in his hand at his side. Thomas, looking just as confused as Sophia and Jezin, remained silent, "Don't be grim, Sir Thomas. It's just investigation." Redwyne said, now turning his head to Jezin, "Aye. Heading to the Great Hall would the best option for you, right now. You'll be called as a witness to Thomas' trial, if it gets that far." Redwyne explained, hoping the Lyoki weren't planning on bolting out of Keilaudrin as fast as possible. Redwyne looked down at Sophia, for a moment, before looking back up at Jezin, "Keep your charge close, Jezin. I don't know what political machinations are being set in plan here, but royalty is always something that must be guarded with a watchful eye." Redwyne said, nodding his head to the bodyguard, before placing a hand on Thomas' back, leading him off to the jailor cells.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Jezin nodded. "Right, I'll gladly appeared if need be, I doubt we'd manage to leave anyway." He waved a hand and turned on his heel before looking back at Sir Redwyne. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out." That was the second time someone had told him to watch out for Sophia in two days, and now he was a bit suspicious of everyone. Sir Redwyne seemed honorable, but he had spent too much time in bad situations to overtly trust anyone in their current predicament. He walked out of the Tower of the Thistle and walked towards the Great Hall, looking back at Sophia. The girl was still quiet, and seemed to be shivering. He frowned, removing his coat and stopping to drape it around her shoulders. He knelt on one knee in front of her. "Princess, I'm sorry for what you've seen tonight, but I promise you, I will protect you to my last breath. Everything will be okay." He smiled and stood, walking again towards the Great Hall.

Sophia had heard Cole's warning to Jezin, and was becoming increasingly nervous. What if she was next? People were dropping like flies, and she was a foreign royal. She shivered a bit, she felt like she was freezing, despite the warm weather. Jezin removed his coat and placed it around her, reassuring her that everything would be fine. For a moment she remembered the night he had saved her, he had said similar words then. She nodded and forced a smile, and followed the bodyguard into the Great Hall, which was nearly overflowing with people. It seemed everyone at the feast had been corralled here, at least for the time being. The pair stood in the doorway, looking for a place to sit.