[IC] When the Flames Die

[Epsir]

"I imagine only a few. The only man who could tell you who was close to Redwyne is now dead." He whispered back, considering Gareth's report. If it was the usual kind of hiding things from outsiders then it was the harmlessly paranoid kind. By that line of thought, Sir Hoyt had been suspiciously cooperative and eager to supply refuting evidence. He was not insane enough to start down that particular logical trail. "Hoyt, I have been in this business long enough to know that it's never as simple as 'there isn't.'" Wallace said, the sweet croak he usually spoke in fading down to a dark rasp. It was easy to convince himself that none of the circumstances added up, and for that matter, they were trusting a manuscript made by the man they suspected. That said, he didn't have any evidence or intent to be hauling Sir Jason off into custody. Either it was an accident, or Hoyt was the killer and he had nothing to worry about save a power struggle within the Order. Ideally, he would have been able to place the Order under investigation but now wasn't the time for hostilities. His somber demeanor broke into a smile, and he reached inside of his long, blue jacket, counting the number of papers his hand passed over to just the right one. Wallace produced two letters and held them out towards Sir Jason. One was sealed with the crest of the Keilaud crown's regency and the other unmarked. "The sealed letter is for the new Commander of the Order of the Thistle, who the Court names within as Sir Thomas Morgan. The second is for Thomas Morgan. Make sure he gets them when he returns here from playing with my dungeon." Morgan wasn't a man who could be bribed or put in debt, but there was a method to the madness of naming him Commander that Wallace was nearly giddy to see the outcome of.

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth frowned at the mention of the name, but he quickly changed his facial expression knowing Hoyt could possibly notice. From Wallace's words, Harker sensed not only a potential mutual dislike for Thomas, but also a capitulation to Sir Jason. In his mind, he pictured the white flags going up and inwardly sighed, for he picked up that they weren't going to go anywhere with Sir Hoyt, not now at least. But then, Gareth was in the midst of recalling how much he didn't really like Thomas and how much he questioned Thomas's position. He wondered then about what exactly were the contents of the letters. One was probably from Canti himself, however the other letter was from the council, likely an explanation of the position among other orders and procedures.

[Sightles]

Jason sighed as he let the longwinded Wallace state everything he wanted too. Dutifully, Jason took the two letters and nodded, "Very well, the door is right there, you can leave now." Jason replied, pointing towards the ajar door, as he placed the letters neatly on the desk in front of him. Jason then reached over and grabbed his quill, before looking back at the too, "I have very important business to be attending to, and satisfying the whims and wants of a one-day regent." Jason added, unfurling the letting in front of him and setting about writing on it on more time.

[Epsir]

Wallace smirked in silence at the man's remark. It was all he needed to hear. The man readjusted his jacket, taking another look around the room before he turned to leave without another word to Jason. He nodded in Gareth's direction, beseeching him to follow. As he passed into the hall, and began making his way for the door again, he began recounting his speculation. "It matters little, at least to me, whether or not Hoyt was willingly or unwillingly an accessory to the killing. I feel inclined to believe that this is the result of a power struggle within the Order, as there's little other motivation for killing Redwyne. The next logical step is some kind of personal feud. Cole isn't the kind of man who has enemies, so I would wager he was simply unfortunately privy to something someone regretted his knowledge of. A silencing would almost be too obvious, the man was about to speak in court and the killer would know that his death would be immediately tied to case. If that were true, Thomas would be the number one suspect, which is almost as outrageous as saying Cole himself did it. Even if it's a framing, that still puts this within the order." He slowed a moment, saddened by having to admit where that thought lead. "Which means it is outside of my grasp for the moment." And then Wallace stopped in the hall, looking directly to Gareth with the beginnings of cheer. "But not for you. If I understand your position correctly, you are on your way to becoming one of the Order? In that case, I think the most beneficial thing you could do for any of us is to continue down that path."

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth obediently followed behind, uttering no words to Sir Hoyt beyond a quick bow. Wallace's assumption was correct—a lot of the reasons for killing Redwyne had some motivation rooted in the Order and a possible power struggle. No doubt, Thomas was at the top of the list being next in line to become commander, and it was flat-out advantageous for Sir Morgan who achieved a higher position as a result of Redwyne's death. But oddly enough, Sir Morgan had yet to say anything lamenting the late Morningstar, and Harker didn't hear anyone else say anything sorrowful about Redwyne beyond himself and Walden. Gareth simply nodded when Wallace nodded to the half-elf's new occupation as a squire. "I am planning on it. I need to continue on it anyway," he stifled a chuckle. "I need the income, and Sir Walden wants me to be another set of eyes for him."

[Sightles]

Thomas rounded the corner and stopped himself right before he bumped into Wallace, "Ah, excuse me, Regent." Thomas said, bowing his head slightly. As he did so, he also noticed Gareth, "Ah, Mister Harker. You've joined Wallace? May I ask what business you are conducting in the Tower?" Thomas asked, his friendly smile taking his face, "If you don't mind me asking, that is." Thomas added, bowing his head slightly. To see the regent in the Tower of the Thistle was not an oddity, but to be accompanied by Gareth, whom was a new squire in the Order, was interesting, "If there's anything I can help the two of you with, I'd be glad to assist." Thomas had duties to fulfill as the Acting Commander, and had to abide by some sort of manners, especially after how damaged his reputation was now.

[Epsir]

Wallace turned reflexively to look at Thomas as he appeared, smiling ever more broadly as he arrived. "A pleasure to meet you, Commander, I was simply leaving your letter of appointment with Sir Jason and fulfilling some personal curiosities surrounding Redwyne's death." The question seemed directed at Gareth, and he was going to let the man who had at the very least a career at stake decide how much they were going to say. He was happy to see Thomas in the Tower, although there were few other places for a member of the Order to be. Even as he waited, he kept a close eye on Thomas, trying his best to evaluate the man. A knight was hardly a mystery, at least on the surface, but he had also been the most damaging irregularity. Whatever he was was something worth keeping an eye on and not for some mere perception of guilt. Even as he looked upon the sole source of his failure, he continued to smile in the kind of cheery, expectant way he usually did.

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth nodded. "Yes, I have," He said, bowing at his hips to Thomas. "And what Mister Canti says is true." In truth, Harker didn't see any type of questioning arise around his accompanying Wallace, since it was apart of his own character to help others when it is asked of him and when it is right. He watched the facial exchanges of the two men by him, and he took careful note of Wallace's seemingly giddy demeanor, suggesting some sort of satisfaction with finding Thomas here when Canti did. Gareth found Sir Morgan's voice honeyed, detecting a hint of brown-nosing and a smudge of honest officiousness. Harker saw it fit to only speak when he was spoken to then, and to only answer questions and not ask them.

[Sightles]

Letter of appointment? He was to be made the official Commander of the Order? Thomas didn't let his emotion show, "Yes, well, I hope I can live up to the position. Gods know I have big shoes to fill." Thomas replied with a small smile. Personal curiosities? Thomas wondered exactly where Wallace had been snooping at, but he decided to ignore it. As of right now, Wallace was regent, and could do as he liked, wherever he liked, "Very well, I'll be on my way then. Regent, Mister Harker." Thomas said, nodding towards each individual before walking around them, and going on his way.

[Epsir]

"Actually, Sir Thomas, if you would just a moment I would like to ask a question," Wallace turned to follow Thomas and froze when he spoke, knowing full well the gangplank down which he was walking. His stomach had tied itself in knots, and even where he stood he felt the rough wood of the guillotine around his neck. Then more than ever he realized his incredible luck in bringing along Gareth, the advantage the young squire was even if for the moment he was only a witness. He could proceed with impunity, even if it was playing his hand. "This morning you arrested Feril Tatchet. She is an innocent courier, I am curious to know what her involvement with this entire affair is." He said, nodding his head and grinning at Thomas. Of course, it meant that he knew Feril Tatchet and was perhaps involved with her plight, but the actual contents of her parcel were likely lost to the darkness at this point. A third, unseen party, an Arcarti ironically, had opened that letter and received their warning, and as yet he'd not seen it resurface.

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth inwardly grimaced as Wallace stopped Thomas, nervousness accruing within the half-elf as he spotted the ugly turn their conversation could take if Wallace didn't measure his actions carefully. This stopped Gareth in his tracks while he was just about to walk off, his feet pointing in the other way, but his body slowly turning as Wallace uttered his statements. He cursed under his hushed breath without letting the other two hear him. The only person other than the sender to know of what was in Feril's package would be the King, and, come to think of it, the postmaster as well if he inspected the package. But did Feril complete the delivery, or some other person? So much thinking in a short time span hurt Harker's head, but nevertheless he continued to mull over everything in his head, his mind becoming a slew of drifting information in a garbage-filled sea of thoughts.

[Sightles]

Thomas smirked, as he slowly turned around. Thomas should of known better. He looked to Gareth, before looking back at Wallace, "Of course, Regent. I'll have her released tonight." Thomas said, locking eyes with Wallace, his eyes indicating that he knew that Wallace had just shown his cards, but Thomas wasn't about to say anything else, especially with Gareth in presence, "As you now, the untimely death of Sir Redwyne has launched an investigation into the postmasters around here. I assumed a courier should be questioned." All fluff. Wallace and Thomas both knew why Thomas had her locked up. Thomas turned back around and began to make his exit, "I'll make sure to have her released before midnight, Regent." Thomas called back.

[Epsir]

Wallace shook his head as Thomas turned away. He hadn't even gotten a straight answer from the man, but he said all that he could have. Although it was merely buying into the gossip around the castle, he did wonder exactly how safe being released was going to be for the young Feril. Not out of any concern for the girl, she'd just been the person picked to send a letter, but the treatment of someone only caught in the middle would tell him something about how Thomas intended to conduct himself. As the knight disappeared into the Tower, Canti turned away, chuckling to himself. "Mister Harker, you're quite the judge of character," he said. "but you have found your way into an exceedingly ugly palace." He shook his head, turning to look towards the exit. "Our little excursion has been educational. I am ready to say that there are, at the very least, no madmen on the loose within our castle. It may even be safer. Despite the controversy surrounding Lexine, I think Thomas' tenure as Commander will prove beneficial for this country. If anything, Lexine's presence here was the aberration, and the surrounding incidents are what demand consideration and scrutiny." It took a concerted effort to say it with a straight face, it was something that wouldn't have survived a court room, but given what they'd just seen, he felt it sounded credible enough.

[ravenDivinity]

Thank goodness, Canti said nothing to threaten the half-elf's job. "Well, um, I wouldn't say that..." He cut into Wallace's first remarks. Gareth too turned to face the other way, prepared to leave, and he kept his mouth shut again until Wallace finished speaking. "Ah, I do believe you are correct..." Harker's face struggled but managed a smile, but Gareth's eyes were downcast and avoidant as ever. "I feel intrusive asking this, do tell if I step on your toes, but... why did he lock up Miss Tatchet? And... how do you feel about him, just in general?" He saw through a lot of what Thomas did then, but of course he'd be a fool if he hadn't. Sir Morgan literally stated the obvious and made an excuse that meant nothing to Gareth because it was so broad and fell short of the real reason. Worse yet, he felt a little targeted by Thomas's clear gazes laid directly at him, ones he tried to avoid as much as possible but ones he noticed nevertheless.

[Epsir]

Wallace considered the other man's questions for a long, silent while the two approached the door to the Tower of the Thistle. From his position, it would be damning to deny the truth at this juncture and it could do little harm anyway. "Feril is a courier who had the misfortune of delivering a package that was sent to this castle but without a recipient. It found its way into someone's hands by chance, and they, for whatever nefarious reason, split the parcel in two. The box went to the king, and he seems to have retained it as it has not resurfaced since. Morgan either knows this, or he detained her just because she's a courier. Whatever the case, he knows that I know now. And, so do you." Again, he unlocked the door to the tower and returned to the daylight outside. The palace grounds had grown still after the morning bustle, the guards were mostly occupied with patrolling the walls and interiors at this point. Only a skeleton crew of workers stood by the gates attempting to restore them to active service. "As for my personal assessment of Thomas, I feel he's a good man. He's someone that people can depend upon and I am simply on a road that places us in conflict. In that regard, he is dangerous and no doubt cruel, but I have a use for that sort of person." The nature of the second question awoke a curiosity in him, and he realized that his assessment of the change in atmosphere when Thomas arrived had been at least partially correct. "But what about you? Sir Thomas is certainly an enigmatic man, I'm curious to hear what you think of him."

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth swallowed this information as he realized the hand of a third party in the events of the days. He hoped Feril would be alright, but he preferred that she be released earlier. Despite his wishes, however, it was out of his hands, and he was helpless to help her out of the trouble she might be in. Harker squinted as they exited the building, his pupils dilating as he adjusted to the bright sun outside. "It is... true... For the most part, however, sometimes his niceness seems manipulative to promote an agenda on the hunt to increase his repertoire..." He finally revealed what he had thought about Thomas the whole time they were speaking in the hall. "He's... got an enormous ego on his shoulders, and I'm not a huge fan... I would love to be relieved of working for him, but I need the job, and I have no choice. Everyone owns up to his 'honorable deeds' and whatnot." He raised his voice at the words 'honorable deeds' indicating some sort of disappointed skepticism. "I don't hate him, I just... don't really like him as much as I thought I would." Harker confided in Wallace the nature of his liking Thomas before things took a negative turn, a strong hint of prior attraction that Gareth hoped would stick out enough for Canti to understand what he was trying to say.

[Epsir]

Wallace nodded along, committing Gareth's assessment to memory and finding himself enthused with its relevance to both parties. For the short period of time he'd known Gareth to be present in the palace, he'd developed quite the opinion of Thomas. At first he speculated that the two had prior history, which seemed downright impossible, but the youth's final statement narrowed the plausible explanations. What the other man was actually getting at flew slightly over the distracted plotter's head, but he understood full well what it was to put faith and more in a person and have it dashed away. "That's a bitter part of life, but one that everyone must become accustomed to. People are never what they seem." One of the few memories he held that he still found genuinely saddening was of the faith he'd placed in this very administration. His footfalls stopped, and he looked up at the palace proper as if admiring the lavish masonry. As it had when he first arrived and now more than ever, it reminded him of a mausoleum. "Flawed and ugly things are the standard by which we derive beauty. That's some poor man's philosophy but it's shockingly appropriate for dealing in politics. Everything has a value of its own. Sir Thomas knows the same, and we will know how he chooses to interpret the rule by how he chooses to treat Feril Tatchet."

[ravenDivinity]

Gareth sighed. "I suppose you're right..." They stopped there while Wallace spoke, and Harker gave his ear. The wisdom he was provided with held some deep meaning in it, and he held onto it, himself aware of its truth, especially in the past few days. For the next minute or so, the half-elf stood still, meditating on things and staring up at the palace in conjunction with Canti. Now more than ever the palace was a tomb in waiting to house the dead, and a threat on everyone's lives lingered overhead with some killer on the loose, a killer that might soon discover those hot on his trail. The pair that stood in the courtyard, Gareth and Wallace, the former interpreted, would need to mind their footing carefully, else they themselves would be in grave danger. "How long do we have?" Harker unknowingly thought aloud, his face pointed at the ground again.

[MicahTheRogue]

"I came with a entourage of about 15 of my father's most trusted warriors." Noah replied with a smile on his face. "More for protection on the road here, and back, than protection in the capital. Their spending their time relaxing in the various taverns in Mullen, right about now, get some much needed relaxation." Noah wondered what kind of debauchery they were going about now, and secretly wanted to join in on whatever they were doing. "What about you? Is Miss Eva the only one who accompanied you to Mullen?" Noah asked, politely nodding his head and acknowledging the silent servant of Sophia.

[DrowsyPangolin]

Sophia shook her head. "No, there are three more of us, my bodyguard and two more servants. I'm not certain where they are at the moment." She giggled, but she was genuinely curious what was taking them so long to get back. Surely Thomas' interrogation was over by now. As soon as she spoke, she noticed a glint of brass-colored armor out of the corner of her eye.

Jezin entered the Great Hall, quickly scanning around the room for his charge. He found Sophia and Eva across the hall, talking to a young man he didn't recognize. He strode across the floor, taking a seat at Sophia's side opposite of Eva. "Sorry about that princess, I've returned." The armored man nodded, before glancing across the table. Sophia spoke up. "Welcome back, Jezin." She motioned across the table. "This is Prince Noah, of Cressen." "My lord," Jezin bowed his head slightly to Noah. Sophia smiled, motioning to her companion. "This is my bodyguard, Jezin Tremora."