Honour

Chapter IV: Listing Leads

 We make our exit from the council room, returning to the halls of faux painted beige. Guards and knights stand outside dressed in pale and strong yellows, sunlight bouncing off the metal of their armour onto the halls walls. Sunset seems to be approaching, a closing remark for the first day of the king's death. It still feels unreal but everything around me is forcing me to accept the reality. Abruptly, the queen snaps me out of my thoughts with her voice, strong and seemingly annoyed.

"Talking isn't the only form of communication but they may just drown themselves in their own blood before we reach them with the pace we dally at!" The queen seethes with grace.

Her Majesty Rhea is far more capable of sending and receiving messages without words. Talking without making a sound. A necessity in court, where words could be truths wrapped in thorns or plain lies. A simple twist or tilt of Queen Rhea's fan alone could change one's standing amongst nobles. Seeing her spit vulgarity outright is a sight, "Make haste, Sir Gerrick!"

The uproar in the council room could be heard as the doors were yet to close. Complaints of the prisoner, kingdoms, alliances and the rest. Sir Gerrik does his best to hurry his walk without running, he doesn't expect the queen to run. I wouldn't either. His face shows confused worry or fear, one of the two, and his lips are pressed into a thin line. Stress, perhaps?

"Suicide? I guess it seems like the only option after killing a king." Claimed the defence minister, his voice faint and

"He's not dead yet, Lord Vhon." Lady Gabrielle, the international trade ministress points out, baffled by his words. Trade and defence have little in common and even less to discuss together so their meetings are nearly nonexistent as their topics scarcely require the cooperation of the two nobles.

"Yet." I repeat as we walk further down the hall, the chaos fades to an unintelligible mess.

With little leads, we only have the royal family of Veurs left and a theorised enemy as leads. We would have to hunt them in a subtle manner, keeping a low profile otherwise we would alarm The Houlei Kingdom if the theory happens to be correct. Whatever plan we could muster would be shut down or compromised.

Perhaps we could find a healer well skilled enough to regenerate muscle. Or just ask 'Yes or No' questions. I wonder why the assassin had not taken a suicide pill or straight up commit it. Surely a trained one would be prepared to do such.

"Did you strip him?" Queen Rhea questions the guards around her as we march quickly towards the castle's clinic.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Nothing remains on him. Bare bodied." Responded the guard beside her, his tone slightly gruff.

"Triple check the bed, urinal, floors, ceilings, and door. I want everything checked. Not just visually, check it physically as well as with magic." Her Majesty tutted, "Bring in the court mage." She then commanded.

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As we arrive at the clinic, the queen peeks in and checks the situation before glancing at her children,

"My darling," The queen lowers herself to Princess Xensci's height, "Would you like to venture the gardens for now? We can meet for dinner." She glances at me, hesitant of her choice but whatever gore awaits in the clinic, if the queen thinks it best to send her youngest away, she's probably right.

Xensci stares at her mother then looks at the ground, a small finger to her chin, lips pressed, she hmm's and then nods. The queen turns to me for who knows what and then tells the princess' personal guard along with two of many Reckart Guards who followed us to watch over the princess.

"Do not let her out of your sight." She orders the guards with a stern look, fearful too. Then she faces Lady Pattri, her lady-in-waiting, "Have someone bring Xensci her flower basket and some snacks for the both of you."