It was nights like tonight that Ardon wished he did not have certain knowledge. If all that Violet had was knowledge of the ancient language, they could have gained the language skill from her and claimed to learn it on their own. Judy had long since made her dislike of our assignment known. She wanted to live in a city once again and she was sick and tired of looking at these stone walls.

“This is our big chance!” Judy said after the door to their living area had closed. “All we have to do is make a deal with the noble for this knowledge and he will let us go back to a city.”

“That could just as easily blow up in our face. What if he takes our information and gives us nothing in return? What happens to Violet when we tell him this information? I would fight to keep Jade away from being a noble’s science experiment and I don't see Zarek acting any differently.”

“Oh, that noble isn’t going to do anything to Violet. He needs her to keep the other nobles off his back. The worst he would do is hold Zarek and Lyra hostage and threaten punishment.”

“Mommy don't let them hurt Violet! She’s my friend.” Jade spoke up from where she was pretending to be asleep.

“Go to sleep Jade. The grownups are talking.”

Ardon motioned toward the door where they could continue their conversation out of earshot of their daughter.

“Do you really think the noble will let us leave?”

“Of course he will, people who inform the authorities of important information are always rewarded for the information if it turns out to be true and useful. The fact that she has the skill for the ancient language would have been enough to get us a boon. Add on to that her ability to open the doors to that huge area and we can ask for anything we want within reason.”

The next morning before breakfast they left Jade in the room and made their way out of the central structure to seek an audience with the noble. When they arrived, a servant informed him that the noble was still sleeping and they would have to wait until he feels like seeing them. It took nearly all morning for them to be granted an audience with him.

Waiting so long gave Ardon time to have second and even third thoughts about the information they were about to give the noble about their friends. When they were called back to see the noble, he was on a raised platform with a desk he was seated behind. There were no other chairs in the room except for the one the noble was seated on.

“I’ve been informed that you have some information that I would find valuable.”

Ardon stammered out “Ye yes my Lord.” He cleared his throat a few times and then began his tale. “A few days ago, my daughter informed me that Violet Tidwell could read the ancient language and was keeping it a secret. Once Violet was released from quarantine yesterday, we that is” he cleared his throat again. “The Dumonts, Judy and I, and the Tidwells confronted her about this knowledge. Before we could even start asking questions, she opened a secret door in the wall.” Ardon’s hands were shaking quite badly at this point.

“So your big news is that she found a door you didn’t know about and she learned a language you have spent years studying. I will make sure she begins giving lessons on the language to a large group of people. You are dismissed.”

Judy spoke up at that point. “My Lord, while she did find a door we did not know about, nobody else but the child could open that door. We did not spend much time in the new area, but it was quite large spanning multiple floors with quite a few living areas. Violet demonstrated how she was the only one who was able to open the secret doors but we were able to open the normal doors once inside. We made sure to come directly here this morning to report this.”

“Have you noticed any magic symbols on this child?”

“No sir, she is just a normal child. I used to help change her diapers when she was younger and never noticed a magic mark on her.” Judy was quick to reply.

“Very well, stick around while I have the child summoned here. If your claims are true I will grant you a boon.”