[IC] When the Flames Die

[DrowsyPangolin]

The Lyoki trio followed Thomas to the palace in silence. Jezin remained straight faced, looking back and forth between his companions. Jorun's eyes stayed glued to the ground for the majority of their short journey, while Alia sported an expression of pure frustration. As they entered the palace, Thomas explained the arrangements for their imprisonment. Alia looked fairly surprised at the courtesy, if it could be called that. She started to speak, likely with some edged retort, but Jezin shot a glare towards her and shook his head. At the moment they were at the knight's mercy, and antagonizing him further would likely end badly, especially for a servant. Alia sighed and spoke, forcing a calm tone. "Thank you, Sir." As they reached their cells, Thomas opened the first door, looking towards Jezin. The bodyguard examined what would be his quarters. He wondered if this was what the life of a pack mule felt like for a moment, before stepping into the room. "Hmm, cozy." He said the words with every bit of sarcasm he could muster before turning back to Thomas with a smirk and waiting on him to shut the door. He caught a glare from Alia, who he had silently reprimanded for nearly doing the same thing moments before.

Sophia forced a smile after Feril's encouragement. "I suppose you're right, at least we're alive." She couldn't help but wonder how much longer those words would be applicable. No, she reminded herself, she wouldn't die here. Feril reminded her that Jezin had gone to find an escape route. He had been gone longer than she'd expected. "That's right... he's been gone a while now..." She hoped nothing had befallen the knight between the palace and the docks. Feril's mention of smugglers caught her ear. The thought of traveling with criminals terrified her, but criminals were usually more than willing to break the law if the price was right, regardless of the risk. If nothing else worked, it was always an option. "I suppose anything that got me back home would be acceptable. I just... worry. If the docks are closed already, and I can't get back, my mother may assume the worst. I fear what her reaction might be, after all, she's already lost one child." Sophia's eyes widened as she said the last words. "Oh, I'm sorry, I don't mean to burden you. Now's not the time to be discussing such sad matters." She forced a smile, but quietly wondered exactly what the Empress would do if she didn't return. When Alexi had died legions had sacked Taura for nearly a year before she begrudgingly put an end to their escapades.

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth cradled it in his arms as Walden finished up his talk. "Of course, sir, thank you." With a bow, he took the sheathed sword and hooked it through a loop on his belt, one made just for that sort of thing. 'Whichever seamstress it was put thought into these pants...' Thank goodness he paid the extra silver for higher quality clothing when he needed formal wear. With a grin on his face put on for Walden, he chuckled to himself. He doubted he'd ever use the sword much, and he loved his bow too much now to change his preferred mode of combat. But as it was, Sir Walden dismissed him already, and Harker was permitted to leave. "Perhaps I shall be seeing you again soon." Another polite bow and a laugh, and he left Sir Walden alone to return to the great hall. Things were clearing up now. He maintained his innocence and wouldn't be trialed for Redwyne's passing, but he foreboded an arrest in the coming hours. Another person might come to trial again; another murder needed solving. Odd that he was the only person trustworthy enough for Walden to put such a task into the hands of. His newest role would be of an observer, and now he had to tune his senses for pure analysis.

[Sightles]

Thomas smirked at Jezin's comment, before shutting the door, locking it. Thomas then turned to the other two knights, and nodded, who then took Alia and Jorun to their own cells. Jorun's identical to Jezin's, while Alia's was far larger, with a wool bedroll on top of an actual bed stand. Once the servants had been led to their cells, and the doors locked, the two other knights made their exit, leaving Thomas alone in the cramped hallway. Thomas sighed, rolling his shoulders as he did so. Now would be a good time to alert Sophia to his actions, as she was the charge of Sophia. He would likely have to delegate two or three knights to her protection as well. Thomas made his exit from the prison hallway, making way to the Great Hall, the last place he saw Sophia. After a bit of walking, he entered the nearly vacant Great Hall. Two other Order of the Thistle knights were already present, standing guard near the rear of the Great Hall. After a moment of scanning, he was able to make out Sophia, who was carrying out a conversation with another woman, wearing a red jacket with a seal. Thomas had seen the seal before, people who wore it were typically couriers. Thomas wondered what exactly the woman had been delivering. The inner machinations of Thomas' mind began to turn. The package meant for Redwyne had apparently arrived earlier this morning, bearing the Lyoki snake, and here sat a courier talking to Sophia. Thomas smirkedas he watched the interaction for a moment. Left hand tight on Harmony's hilt, he began his way over to the pair.

[Epsir]

Feril could only nod her head along in silence as Sophia talked about her mother. It all seemed so far beyond a common courier to be hearing the affairs of a royal, and to sympathize with her mother. But, she understood how the girl felt, she'd felt the same on the trail often. "It's alright, everyone needs someone to talk to and it's better to get it off your chest." She smiled faintly, feeling sleep slowly creeping up on her. The courier rubbed her eyes and looked around the room. Plenty of guests had cleared out, and she wondered if they had managed to lift the gates yet. It wouldn't help her getting out of town but it would mean she could get back into the parts of it she enjoyed. There were a few cheap enough looking places on the way in. "I'm sure everything will turn out okay, it'll just take time. Doesn't matter what country you go to, the royals like to move slow." She said, nodding her head towards the table at the head of the room, now vacated. "No offense," Feril blurted after a moment of silence, realizing what she said.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Sophia smiled at Feril's words. "Thank you, Feril, I appreciate that." It seemed the people in Great Hall were beginning to disperse. She giggled slightly at Feril's comment. "Oh, no, none taken, I understand." It was true, royal affairs tended to move with the speed of an arthritic tortoise, she couldn't dispute that fact. As she talked to the courier, she noticed a glimmer out of the corner of her eye. She gradually turned her head, seeing a suit of white armor and a familiar face: Thomas. She froze for a moment before turning back to Feril. "I believe we have company, Miss Tatchet." A faint look of worry appeared on her face.

Jezin took a seat on the hay pile, leaning against the wall of his cell. A fine situation he'd landed himself in this time. He wondered how things would go now. He felt he would probably be here for a while, regardless of what Thomas had said. He was also worried where the knight had left to. He had promised not to do anything to Sophia or Eva, but he had little reason to trust Thomas' word at this point. Jorun sat quietly a few cells down. He still refused to speak. Alia lay across her bedroll in the far cell. She continued muttering about the unfairness of their situation under her breath.

[ravenDivinity]

Thomas came down the other corridor through the castle that intersected the route from the west end before the great hall, and when Gareth saw Thomas, the half-elf quickly dashed out of view behind a column, as if, outside of Thomas's peripheral vision, he could sense Gareth's presence. Harker thought negative thoughts at the sight of the man. After Sir Morgan entered, he followed suit, some time afterwards to avert association, and he neared Sophia. The boy circled Thomas and stood behind the princess with a hand on her shoulder, as if protecting her. "Ah, hello... my lady, I have returned." His actions were passive-aggressive, but so subtle as to avoid being deemed so. He did not acknowledge Thomas. "Feril, hello." He tipped his head to the courier.

[Sightles]

Thomas noticed as Sophia took note of his coming presence, donning a friendly smile as he did so. As he approached his posture relaxed, and he took a seat next to Sophia. "My lady," Thomas said, nodding and acknowledging Feril, "Your grace." Thomas turned towards Sophia and nodded. Thomas was trying his best to ignore the fact that part of his face was covered in a white eye wrap, and figured it best if he simply didn't refer to it at all, "How are you fairing?, Princess?" Thomas asked, with a concerned tone. Everything that had happened had created a habitat dangerous, and traumatizing, for children. Thomas felt remorse, as he remembered that Sophia had seen what he had down. Before Thomas could add anything else, Gareth approached, and placed a hand on Sophia. Thomas smirked slightly as it appeared Gareth refused to acknowledge his presence. "Hello, Gareth. I've heard you've recently became a squire of the Order. Congratulations!" Thomas said, smiling as he did so, "It's been a while since we've talked." He added, as he took a glance at Feril from across the table, the fact he only had one operating eye making it slightly more obvious, before then turning his gaze back on Gareth.

[Epsir]

"Hey... welcome back," Feril said, looking to acknowledge Gareth's return and failing to notice that he returned with a sword. Her attention was pulled away by the other stranger at their table a larger man with his face, part of it anyway, obscured by a white eye wrap. Sir Thomas, if she recognized him from his trial. It wasn't as if there were many other people matching his description in the palace. She still didn't know how she felt about him, he had been acquitted of a crime that didn't involve a hair on her but he seemed favored by Canti and that didn't bode well. She returned eye contact when he glanced in her direction, before going back to her drink. The knights were talking now, she assumed they had some business with Sophia, and knew it was best not to interrupt that sort of thing. Before she knew it, she was resting her head on her folded arms over the table. Fatigue had caught up with her after three days riding and one night panicking in the great hall with the others, and closed her eyes as she waited.

[DrowsyPangolin]

"Sir Thomas." Sophia said, nodding in his direction. She felt nervous around the man, even if his charges had been dropped. "I'm... alright, I suppose. A bit shaken up." She appreciated the knight's concern. She was surprised to see Gareth appear from behind the man and place a hand on her shoulder. She smiled up at her friend, somehow the small act made her feel safer. "Oh hello Gareth! I'm glad you're back." She noticed the sword at his waist, a new addition that she assumed had been given to him by Sir Walden. Gareth's return reminded her it had been a while since her bodyguard had departed, though. She looked back to Sir Thomas, a bit of worry in her eyes. Thomas had wanted to duel Jezin earlier. Surely nothing had happened... "Sir Thomas, you didn't happen to see Jezin outside, did you?"

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth smiled. "Thank you all." He believed the nature of Thomas's concern specious, Harker falling into a state of distrust. Walden had him convinced that most of those in the castle weren't trustworthy for the time being, and he supposed such a questioning of intents would be their best security against any death threats. His lack of positive thought concerning Thomas, however, had a root in Thomas's playing innocent and edgy temper towards anyone who questioned his perceived honor. Someone who was as self-righteous as Sir Morgan was, the half-elf felt, likely had questionable intents, for normally people used honor as a ploy for others to follow them into either rightdoing or wrongdoing, though more often than not wrongdoing was usually the goal. Like Sophia, the events of the past two days edged him on paranoia and fear, and he necessitated all means of evasion of the situations that would cause that. But they were missing Jezin, and a task as simple as what Jezin needed to perform shouldn't have taken as long as it seemed to. Something was wrong.

[Sightles]

Thomas nodded as Gareth's thanks, before returning his attention back to Sophia, "That's actually why I came here. Princess. I'm afraid I need to alert you to some events, and ask you a few questions." Thomas reveal, a look of slight disappointment on his face, as if he did not enjoy revealing he needed to question the Princess, "I also need to question you, if you don't mind, my lady." Thomas added, pointing towards Feril, "It has to do with events that have transpired as of late." He explained, as he stood up from his seat, now standing next to Gareth. As Thomas stood up, he noticed the intricate scabbard Gareth now possessed, He smiled when he noticed it, knowing full well that Sir Walden had given the squire the weapon, and had no doubt sent the boy on a mission. It was evident in the way Gareth now carried himself. He seemed far more confident, to Thomas. Something Thomas had not seen before in Gareth.

[Epsir]

Questions for the princess. Whatever it was, it didn't sound particularly positive. Little else that day had been,and a sense of foreboding came over Feril when she heard Sir Thomas' next line. The courier looked up from the table slowly, checking to make sure she was being addressed and sitting up attentively straight when she saw that Thomas was pointing to her. Of course, why not? She'd be chopping lumber or working bars in a few weeks but why not skip the harsh life and jump straight to the thumbscrews. "Yessir," she muttered, looking up at Thomas once before returning her gaze to the table. Nothing in her mind could explain why exactly he was interested in her, of all people. Maybe she wasn't exactly invited, but she had at least delivered a parcel here. The fact that it had gone before the king was suspicious, but that was something they'd look for with the local postmaster, who, as it were, was unaware of her presence. Only the woman in armor. A frown broke across her face at the memory. Maybe she actually was a knight, and was involved with this posse. It made sense but it also made things so much worse.

[DrowsyPangolin]

The color visibly drained from Sophia's face when Thomas said he needed to question her. She managed to maintain her composure, however, despite the nervousness that wall quickly overcoming her mind. He hadn't said where Jezin was, but the princess had a feeling things weren't going well for her protector. She glanced up at Gareth with a bit of fear before replying to Thomas with a steady, metered voice. "Certainly, Sir Thomas. Where will we be going?" She took another bite of the peach in her hand, trying her best to prevent it from shaking. It seemed Thomas wanted to question Feril as well, though Sophia was unsure of his reasoning. Whatever had happened, it didn't bode well.

[Sightles]

"I appreciate the cooperation." Thomas said, smiling, "I will be questioning you in your quarters, along with Eva." Thomas explained to Sophia. He had no intention of take royalty to an interrogation room, especially after what Sophia had saw, "As for you, I'm afraid I will be taking you to to a holding cell until I care question you. You will be the best cell we have, and we'll make sure you're accommodated correctly. I'm sorry, but due to the recent events, I must take action this way." Thomas further went on, explain why he had to do what he was about to do, "You will be treated with the diginity that royalty deserves, Princess. This is simply investigation, nothing less, and nothing more." Thomas finished, as he looked at Feril, "If you don't mind, I'd appreciated it if you both followed me." Thomas finished, as he turned to Gareth, "As a squire of the Order of the Thistle, I request you follow along with me, Mister Harker."

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth nodded. "Very well then." On the inside he felt disgusted, but at least he received some relief from knowing he would be present the whole while and nothing bad would happen. 'No more beatings during interrogation.' Additionally, the other good news was that Sophia and Feril likely had nothing to do with the death of Sir Redwyne, for it was Harker who delivered the package as he was ordered to by Sir Walden, and the only information on the sender of the package could've come from Sir Walden and the postmaster. But why Sophia? This question vexed the half-elf to no end. The serpent itself, though, reminded him of Sophia's necklace, and he surmised that maybe the snake was from Lyok, for after all, the Lyoki were immune to poison and would be able to handle the small serpent without succumbing to its venom. Feril, on the other hand, was an even bigger question. He hadn't seen Feril at all throughout the past two days... Considering she was a courier, though, she must've delivered something sinister as well.

[Epsir]

The courier grimaced as Thomas looked over at her, and felt a weight in her stomach drop when she was asked to come along with Thomas. Wasn't he just accused of misconduct during an interrogation? Well, she hoped, surely they weren't about to interrogate some unlucky messenger girl, she wasn't planning on keeping any secrets from the law when they had her like this. Besides, she knew only what was publicly available to begin with, that was part of the job. Slowly, the weary Feril stood up and moved away from the table, coming around to join the knights. "I'm ready to go," She said, after standing around collecting her thoughts and preparing her lines for whatever came next. Just a holding cell, that was manageable, she'd been quarantined as a messenger before and that hadn't been too miserable. Whatever she was promised wasn't what worried her, the truth did. With things they way they were, there wouldn't be anyone so much as batting at eye no matter what they did so long as it was in the name of order. She'd watched it before, always as a passing-by observer without the time or the care to truly think about it.

[DrowsyPangolin]

"Oh, yes, alright." Sophia stood from her chair, pushing it in quietly behind her. Being questioned worried her, but at least she wouldn't be put in a cell. Poor Feril, she thought, looking back towards the courier. Hopefully she wouldn't be kept for long. After all, she only seemed to have done her job. Gareth coming with them made the princess feel slightly better about the whole situation. She wasn't entirely sure why, but the small comfort calmed her nerves, if only a bit. "Lead the way, Sir Thomas." She prepared to follow the man, leaving the peach she had been eating sitting on a silver plate on the table. She inched slightly closer to Gareth, throwing a quick nervous glance towards her friend. She wondered if Jezin had been able to find Alia and Jorun. Eva was likely still in the room. She wasn't especially sociable, though other than her feuds with Jezin she was quite pleasant to have around. She imagined Jezin had been brought in for interrogation as well, though she imagined after what he had said about Thomas the setting for his questioning probably wouldn't be nearly as comfortable as her own.

[Sightles]

Thomas began to lead the four of them out of the Great Hall, before looking back at Gareth, "Maybe it would be best if you could escort Princess Sophia to her quarters, and stand guard until I can return there to begin questioning." Thomas said, now turning his attention to Sophia as he kept walking, "That is, if the Princess accepts this arrangement." He added, with a small smile. Thomas wasn't about to inconvenient royalty, especially royalty that had seen terrible things the best two days, "I don't think I quite caught your name, either, miss." He added further, now turning to look at Feril. The actual seal was foreign to Thomas, but he was well aware of her occupation.

[ravenDivinity]

Following along, Gareth shrugged. "I, uh, suppose I could." Something about taking orders from Thomas didn't particularly suit his fancy. True though, he didn't ever find himself easily giving in to the commands of someone he saw any sort of character defect. Despite this, it was his job to obey orders now, and he was too servile to openly refuse. Harker took Sophia's hand in his own with a gentle squeeze to communicate a sort of nonverbal assurance, and though it was only morning, he intended to stride with her as a pair would walk under the cover of night. However much the sun shined that day, the darkness of mankind crept around them, and Harker would rather escort someone through the dark than go on alone in the light. Feril, on the other hand, he couldn't take with them. She had to be alone in a prison cell until Sophia was done with her private 'interview'. Luckily, Feril was in less danger than Sophia, and the half-elf could assure the safety of both the courier and Sophia by attending Sophia's interrogation and escorting her around afterwards if Jezin wasn't back by then. After all, it seemed Feril didn't have much suspicion surrounding her but could be used for information on her contractors, and nothing could be gained from killing her. Sophia needed Gareth then more than ever not only for emotional support but also for personal security.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Sophia glanced towards Gareth as Thomas suggested he escort her to her room. She liked the idea, but at the same time it made her somewhat nervous for Feril, who would now be alone with Thomas. Still, she was in no position to say anything about that, and there was no reason for the knight to harm the young woman. She nodded. "Yes, that would be fine." She felt Gareth squeeze her hand and smiled. The world was falling to pieces, but at least she had one friend here. She looked towards the young man, a faint trace of hope glimmering in her yellow eyes. "Right then, Gareth, let's go." She wasn't sure if the boy knew where her room was. Before they left, she sent one last glance towards Feril. She remained silent, but her eyes seemed to beg the courier to be careful.