Mags

Chiyo searches the room for anything else that might be useful. Also did you say if there were any doors besides the one I entered?

Merinn was sulking in his room.

"Woah mate calm down . . . I didn't do anything wrong!"

Merinn wandered up behind them because he was bored. "What's that?"

Will let out a mental sigh of relief. She seemed to be telling the truth. She really didn't know. ". . . Yeah, he's been wanting to expand for several years now but we've always kept him in check."

Will felt a glimmer of hope, if she was asking then she might not actually know. "I thought everyone had already heard! My father and I came to a rather large political disagreement. He insisted the country should move in a more aggressive direction, and that the economy would benefit from conquest. I disagreed. As one of his sons, I would have lead such a military campaign, but I refused. So he disowned me; what good is a useless son?" This was the public reason, and he was surprised she hadn't already heard it. It wasn't the real reason for his disownment of course. The real reason was the secret he feared she knew. It was something that, if it got out, would ruin his life. Her response might allow Will to figure out if she truly knew or not.

Will could feel himself loosing this situation. "It matters because . . . you might've . . . . just- why did you do it?"

"Yes ma'am!" Mr. Guard moved away, speaking with the other guards and making sure everything was secure.

"Well that's mildly concerning." Will was, in fact, not very good at interrogating people. "Were you really the one who started the decay?"

"Why did you leave? It wasn't because of a certain piece of information you learned, was it?"

"Yes ma'am! What can I do for you ma'am!?"

Merinn entered the kitchen, for lack of anything else to do. "What's for lunch?"

Mr. Guard shifted nervously.

Will nodded. "That's right! We've known each other for 2 whole days!"

Will sighs. "Alright then, I'd rather not this break into violence." "That's right, she's with me. If you get your guard, I get my companion, deal?" "Also, not a prince." Will dismounted from his horse. "I know your lying about not having been to the palace, I think you were a student at the academy, weren't you?"

"Mmmmmh." Any ring shaped objects in sight?

"Yes, could we speak privately?" Will didn't seem to notice.

"Yes, I'm rather relieved myself." "I wanted to have a conversation with you." He glanced at Alex, "It is somewhat delicate."

Chiyo goes for the door directly in front of her.

Mr. guard averted his eyes and shrunk away. Another prisoner from a cell down the hall was watching from the shadows, though he didn't really understand what was being talked about.

Mr. Guard stole a glance at them. This is kinda awkward, he thought to himself.

"Miss Barkeep! I'm glad to see you've somehow escaped! I wanted to speak with you, as you may remember." Will called out.

"Yes. I just can't make them in shadowy areas, or when the sun is set."

Mr. Guard was there. Guarding. As instructed.