The Songster in Revenant Kingdom

Chapter 3

Once the soldiers were down, Roland walked over to Aranella, Evan, Gascon, and Camilla running over as well.

"We're lucky you found us when you did." Roland told her gratefully, Evan nodding, bouncing up and down excitedly.

"Yes! Thank you so much, Nella!" Nella smiled at Evan, bowing to him humbly.

"I don't deserve your thanks. I should have reached you sooner..." Then she frowned, looking down at her feet in disgust. "But... today of all days? How could they?" She murmured, almost to herself, before remembering Roland, and looking to him, getting into her protective mode. She didn't like strangers, especially when they tried to coddle up to Evan when she wasn't around. "Who exactly are you? And how did you get into the castle undetected?" 

"I'm Roland, and... I'm as curious about how I got here as you are..." He replied, not looking into her eyes, a little embarrassed to have to have admit that.

"I thought it might've been a Gateway spell!" Gascon piped up, coming over. "After all, if anybody would know it, it'd be someone in that world, not here in Ni No Kuni! But Camilla said-"

"Gascon!" Camilla scolded. Now was not the time to be arguing about how Roland came to be here. Now was the time that they had to leave.

"Roland helped us." Evan told Aranella, trying to ease her conscious. "He saved my life." Roland gave a small smile at Evan.

"Finally beginning to see reason, huh?" Aranella smiled at Roland, but anyone could see that she had more concern than anything behind her green eyes. 

"...Very well." She conceded. "If His Majesty counts you as an ally, then so do I." She then gave a humble bow to Roland as way of apology. "Forgive my suspicion. I am merely doing my duty. My name is Aranella, and I have served as Evan's governess since his birth." But judging by the way she fought, Roland knew better than that.

"You're not just a governess, though. You're a bodyguard, too." He commented. She nodded, not really acting as though she had been trying to hide it at all.

"I suppose you could say that, yes. Although, I've never had to prove it until today..." Evan then turned to Aranella. If anyone could make him feel better in this moment, it was her.

"What's going on, Nella?" He asked her anxiously, his small hands in fists.

"Chancellor Mausinger has started a rebellion." She wasn't holding back as she spoke. If Evan were to be king, then she couldn't be gentle with him, as much as she wanted to be. "He means to kill you." 

"Mausinger?" Evan's eyes were wide. He couldn't believe it! "But he was my father's most trusted advisor... I must speak with him! I must make him see reason!" 

"Evan, are you mad?" Gascon asked, looking concerned with the very thought.

"It won't work. This is no spur-of-the-moment uprising. This thing was planned." Roland had no true evidence to back up this claim, but somehow, he knew that he was right. "If he says he wants you dead, he means it." Evan looked around wildly at them all,  trying to make one of them see it the way he did, but they all knew better.

"But... we can't just..." he couldn't even finish his sentence. He knew that there was no reasoning with Mausinger. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew deep in his heart that it was true. 

"Aranella -- do you know of a safe way out of here?" Roland asked the older woman as she tapped her chin, thinking before she nodded.

"There is a hidden passage that leads to the sewers. I doubt many in the castle know of its existence." She looked to the door that stood opposite of the one that they had entered from. "That door will lead us there." She told them, and they went through the door, only to find a grimalkin woman standing there. She looked shocked to see them.

"Your Majesty! You're all right!" She exclaimed, sounding relieved as Evan nodded.

"Yes, thanks to my friends." He told her, trying to sound more kingly, but he was too nervous to even think straight. 

But Roland could, and he saw an immense difference in this part of the castle. It was much darker, and it wasn't as grand as much of the castle. It felt like an older place, a place no one went to.

"No signs of fighting around here..." he murmured. 

"Mausinger's main target appears to have been His Majesty." The woman explained. "This part of the castle is far away enough from the royal chambers to have escaped his attention. Those of us who are injured or unable to fight have been gathering here for safety.  I think the soldiers probably know we're here, but there's no way out, so they have us where they want us regardless. We're as good as prisoners."

"Oh my." Evan looked at his feet, feeling terrible. All of this trouble, and it was all about him. He felt terrible that all of these people were in such danger because of him. "Then I musn't stay long. If I do, I will be putting you all in danger..." 

"Your Majesty..." Aranella put her hand to heart, wishing she could tell him differently, but it was true. If the soldiers found out that Evan was down here, then everyone was doomed. 

Evan didn't even respond. He just walked away, Gascon following after him quickly, wishing he knew how to help his friend as they continued their journey to safety.