"Wait". It's Kamas who protested my action. "You can't seriously be thinking of going alone right after four of our comrades have gone missing."

"Right" Bern says, "Of course we will join you"

Larn adds his piece "Couldn't we wait instead? We have tried to get in, but we couldn't do anything. Bosir is much more used to dealing with nobility anyway."

A small discussion ensues, but we ultimately end up all going together. And so we walk as a group of four towards the noble district. The guards to the entrance stop us. "We have orders to let only the young man through. The rest of you will have to remain outisde." Am I expected?

"Go" Kamas says, "If you don't make it back in two hours, we storm the place" He says it clearly so that the guards can hear it, probably so that it can be reported, increasing the likelihood of my safety being guaranteed.

One of the guards ends up escorting me to the massive Heidel residence I was last inside of half a month ago. It is quite late in the day, and in contrast to the very dark village, or the mostly dark city, this place has many open flames everywhere, to the point where I would think some festival was being set up, was it not for the utter lack of people outside.

As I arrive at the manor, another guard takes over the escort duty, while the one that brought me reports something in a whisper to another colleague. That man runs ahead, while I am slowly being walked to the "waiting" room. This time I am not clad in an effeminate clown suit, but rather just in my leather armor. I am asked to at least leave behind my sword and shield in the waiting room.

A much shorter while goes by than the first time I was here, probably somewhat concerned about the deadline Kamas set, I am escorted to the audience room, where the count sits atop his throne. The throne is also on a higher part of floor, with a small staircase between us, giving the feeling of him being in power. "Greetings to the young hunter Yos" The count says as I reach the middle of a room. "What a pleasant surprise, given how the young hunter clearly ignored any deals between the parties present just a few days ago." The tone feels mocking.

I cut him off "Enough with the bullshit! Where is Atna!?" I feel I am being less diplomatic than what is optimal, but I am pissed, especially after hearing his tone of voice, and feel the need to lash out.

"Whoever could the young hunter be referring to? This one simply has no idea." He says in an exaggerated tone. I can see two guards besides him and one besides me and a Read reveals they are at least two others in the room that I can't see, one somewhere behind me and one somewhere behind him. That's way too many for me to realistically take on, so I push an urge to threaten him down.

"Don't play stupid! She came here half a month ago and once again some 7 days ago, when she went missing. I know you met with her, so what did you do with her!?" He is seriously pissing me off.

Heidel taps his cheek a little, before exaggeratedly brightening up "Oh that Oboern girl. I simply returned the girl to some family of hers. Not a strange result, considering how the girl thought one could just waltz onto the scene of politics so ill prepared" He continually pisses me off with that vibe. Like a good actor playing a role badly on purpose, that's the vibe I am getting.

"WHERE IS SHE!?" I feel myself reaching my breaking point, but the count just smirks.

"Just where could the young girl be?" He muses falsely. Suddenly he takes on a completely different face and his next words are stern and serious. "The young hunter played a game unsuited for the young hunter. The young hunter broke his promise with this one with the help of that girl, and even if this one decided to help the young hunter recover the girl, the matter is out of this one's hands by now. The young hunter has a choice. To either become an enemy of this one, or to honor the promises given."

Out of his hands... Fuck it, I am going all in. I channel bestowal in my legs and start a small creation in my right hand and dash as suddenly and unexpected I can towards the count. It seems everyone is taken by surprise, and I reach him within a few seconds, without being stopped.

Holding a knife forged by my creation magic to his throat, while my other hand is pinning his head to the throne he sits in, I shout "Nobody move, or the count dies!" I suddenly realize it may be tricky to escape from this situation.

"Now, dear count, what exactly did you with Atna? Speak, or your life is forfeit"

An unexpected smirk appears on his face and he starts talking "The young hunter dares threaten a noble? Does the young hunter not know what happens to people, who show no respect for nobility."

"Don't know, don't care! Now Answer me!" I threaten.

He chuckles a little "The young hunter doesn't have the guts. Gua- ARGH!" As he starts calling for the guards, I thrust my blade into his shoulder and quickly removes it again.

"The next one will be to the throat" I say, as menacingly as I can. "Now tell me! Where is Atna!?"

The general smirk and feeling of superiority fades from the count and leave behind a look of fear.