“What a repulsive city,” I mumble these words only to myself, but being atop the castle's battlements does give me the perfect view to see each new fire that pop's up in the noble's district, each one indication of another nobleman's foolish folly to impede my men's search. “It would be much easier if they did the same trick they do when other countries invade and simply lay down dead. At least then I wouldn't have to continue this farce.”

Thankfully, though, the sound of my scribe Richard huffing and puffing as he ran towards took me was enough to momentarily take my attention of the increasingly burning city. “Ma'am.” Eventually climbing the battlements stairs he managed a salute and squeezed out a greeting before he went back to breathing.

From a glance, it would seem the exercise's with Roding will need to be increased especially if he's this tired already, though the fact he's still wearing his chainmail armour means there was at least some improvement from the youth who joined a year ago, who couldn't even stand upright in chainmail.

I think he's grown and inch or two as well, though he's still half a head shorter than me. Even while taking in air, those green eyes of still show a type of intelligence that made me take him as my scribe.

But I digress young Richard seems to have taken care of his lack of air and with a slightly less red face, begins his report anew. “Commander, with the help of the flying squadron, we were able to break through the castles blockade and enter the library, once in I found and deciphered the documents that you requested and have forwarded them to your tent fro your own reading.”

Efficient as always, I may not make a warrior out of him but at least my workload is reduced. Putting on the same stern military voice I use during all of our operations, I begin to question Richard on the current state of affairs my company was currently in. “Has the royal family been rounded up yet? And have all the Generals been seized yet?”

“Almost Commander, we're just flushing out some of the minor royalty from their hiding holes, Princess Augusta has been an instrumental help during our search.” Of course, she has. “Other than General Hauges; who is currently campaigning in the Ersnt Duchy, we've caught everyone else. Some attempted to flee the city once they learned that our company had arrived, but both Sir Jeremy and Sir Harold caught them as they fled through the east and west gates.” No doubt they both made the capture into some sort of competition.

Though they probably complaining right now about how bad the royal army was, and how they didn't even put up any resistance to save their royal family. Though I don't blame them, there not the first people to abandon their superiors when I turn up, and I doubt they'll be the last either.

Moving on, I ask about the object I would of like to acquire, but could do without. “And the man? Has he been found yet?”

“He's under the direct care of Captain Bruce. After his family stopped resisting, Captain Bruce was able to take the man, and now that resistance in the castle has ceased, he's bringing the man up with his detachment to the royal court.” Heavy-handed as always Bruce, I hope he's still able to talk otherwise it would have been a wasted effort.

Now then, “Time to meet with the Verworfen royal family then. Have them all gathered into the royal court and tell Beatrice to wait for me outside. If she's going to be helping us I might as well grant her wish while I'm at it.” She can't do any worse than the current king.

“Right away Commander.” After Richard's salute, he begins his journey once more. At least this time he can regain his breath on any of the comfy furniture he chooses. As I too begin to move I look once more across the Verworfen's repulsive capital city and can't help but wonder if razing the city would be better, I'd properly get the support of the poor as well, since who doesn't want to go around pillaging their better houses. Hmm, I should really leave that kind of thinking to the likes of Jaime and his marauding cronies, anyway, it wouldn't do my name justice if I started to destroy cities.

Moving away from the battlement I began to descend the same stairs Richard has been running up and down for the past hour. While wandering down the stairs and into the castle's outer courtyard, my eye's wander to the massive white stone walls and the scar's it now carries from the recent beating it took from Emma and her siege team. She can be over-zealous sometimes in her work; as a note a few burning trees and flower arrangements, but for the most part she acts in restraint.

More of her work can be seen as I round the corner to the castle's entrance, two smouldering carriages and a tree that hasn't quite been put out yet. I don't linger on such thoughts, however, since even with the large open area that makes up the inner courtyard, I quickly reach the castle's massive oak doors, faithfully held open by some of Duncan's armoured swordsmen. A quick 'Ma'am' from them and I enter the luxuriously furnished hallway.

A purple carpet that stretches on for the entire corridor was the first thing to greet me, followed swiftly by a young woman in her early twenties. Princess Augusta. I don't recall the last time I meet the princess, but for a member of royalty, she had 'acquired' the assets of her mother, though in her case she seemed to still be in shape compared to the rest of her family; her father especially.

As she slowly walked towards me I almost unintentionally shouted for her to hurry up as she had already spent a good minute walking towards me. But, better to keep decorum, it's not every day you unintentional help to topple a regime, besides these types of people make the best employers. Though that line of thinking will have to wait.

Quickly stepping towards the princess to end this farce I draw up to her in a matter of seconds. Her body a head shorter than my own height of five foot ten. This forces her to look up to me, however, her blue eyes neither showed anticipation or nervousness within them. I don't linger for long of this unexpected surprise, since as soon as I stopped in front of her she grabs the hem of her dress, and with a trained expertise makes a quick bow to me, and then greets me in the delicate and gentle voice one would expect to of been trained with a royal upbringing. “Queen Augusta Marie Luise of the Verworfen Kingdom greets Commander Eleonore of the White Rose company, and I must say it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Well, I'll give her credit, she at least a more makes a better first impression than her father had. “Has the rest of the royal family been moved to royal court?” She gives a curtsy nod in response. Good. “Walk with me, it's time to talk business.”

Taking the lead in front of me she also takes the initiative to begin the conversation. “What kind of business did you have in mind? It should be quite easy for me to arrange whatever you desire.”

“The location of my son. Why else would I bother to invade this place?”

“You son has gone missing?” The blank look on her face as she turns around to ask me, quickly reminds me that not everyone was privy to this knowledge.

Therefore I decided that I need to explain everything a bit more in detail. “Yes, 'ahem', my son has gone missing. The information that my men in the city gathered, was that one Philip Trant had gotten him drunk at his favourite tavern and proceed to dragged him off to the military once he was sufficiently intoxicated. So of course once we've arrived, a quick search located him and I had my men drag up here. Which reminds me, I'm going to be using the the royal dungeons for a few hours, I'm afraid we left the majority of our own equipment and staff with the rest of the company.”

To my demand, Augusta gave a simple response, “Of course you can.” But instead of leaving her question at that, she decided it was worth her time to dig deeper. “I may sound rude, but how do you know that Philip knows what's going on. What if this was just a simple fault when many people were being conscripted?” For normal people, yes, but I and the king have quite the arrangement in place.

Speaking of which, I should tell the new queeny the old king's deal, wouldn't want to give her a misunderstanding now. “It wasn't. The king and all his little army officers know that my son is off limits, and the deal was that my army wouldn't invade or help invaders as long as my son resided inside the royal capital.”

“But, that was some years ago, in that time there've been quite a few new Generals, what if this was caused by one of the new Generals simply not getting the message.”

“It wasn't. General Cuthbert, was the commanding the army. And if I recall, he getting on in years now isn't he? Plus, the man is known to go over every single one of his soldier's name. In short, to make sure nobody who isn't supposed to be there is there, some nobleman's child for example.”

After explaining it to her, she seemed to understand why my son was conscripted on purpose. And in all hope I wanted her to stop asking these stupid question. But unfortunately, the new queen was a curious person.“Right. But that makes me wonder if you didn't want this to happen then why...”

Raising my voice a bit louder than I usual do, I stop the queen from finishing her sentence and rebuke her for what's she's trying to do.“Queen Augusta, please don't ask any more silly questions. You're a ruler now and rulers need to know when some questions are best left unsaid.”

After being told off she stopped asking questions. Seemingly embarrassed about being told off. Thus our journey to the royal court was nice and quiet. Though the ten minutes of wandering passed over decorated columns, statues and portraits slightly killed the mood, as on more than one occasion I was muttering to myself about 'how much tat there was in the royal castle'.

Thankfully on my arrival, the ten foot tall, and Plate armoured clad Captain Bruce was waiting for me, minus a helmet as well seems even he wants to be formal sometimes. Though, this does give me to see the man outside of his armour for once; if only a little, and he's the same as also, bald, not even eyebrows. Square jaw, no fat to be seen, a slightly bent, given by some unknown foe, plenty of scars and his trademark scary brown eyes.

Strangely enough, there was an undernourished and underdeveloped women standing beside him. I know for a fact I asked for a guy called Philip, had he escaped. Or did Bruce save this poor woman? Wouldn't be the first time. “We're here.” While I was pondering this Augusta quite unhelpfully pointed out the obvious as we arrived at the courts overly decorated doors.

Ignoring the royal court, for now, I turned to Bruce and begun asking him some questions. “Has Sir Jeremy and Sir Harold arrived yet?” He gives his usual deep grunt to express that they have arrived. “Are they waiting in the hall?” The same grunt indicates that the two competitors have at least keep to the schedule. “Where's Philip? And who is that next to you?”

At this question, he points to the women beside him and squeezes out two words in the same deep tone, “Is... Philip...” Even as I look towards the supposed Philip, a bit of guilt hits me for making Bruce speak. Even though he survived having an arrow lodged in his throat and somehow keep his voice book, the fact talking is difficult for him makes me guilty whenever he does. Good thing Henry hasn't seen him again, the poor boy loved the guy and his stories when he was younger.

Shaking my head, I get rid of those thoughts and focus on the 'man' in front of me, who also draws back under my gaze. Augusta watching the 'man' draws further and further back from my gaze jumps in, “Commander Eleonore, that is Philip Trant, he famous in the capital; and among ladies, for being anonymously handsome. Many of the nobles daughters have expressed their desire to have such an exotic husband.”

After Augusta confirmed it was Philip, I ignore the rest of her prattle and instead asked him a simple question. “Where is my son?”

“I-I don't know the exact details...” Even as he said those word he quickly noticed my gaze and begun to think faster. “B-but, I overheard General Cuthbert talking about a new boy and his master taking up residence in the forbidden forest up north. He said that that delegation 'princess' had taken a liking to the boy. Or something along those line's.”

“...Con...venient...” Bruce piped in as Philip finished his story.

“It is, isn't it. But it's our only lead. Cuthbert's in the dungeons isn't he?” Bruce nods at this. “In that case get Charles to ask him some questions related to what Philip said. Oh! And have Richard go through his study, there's probably some evidence there as well. Meanwhile, I'm going to have a nice and lovely conversation with the ex-king, while Augusta addresses her new subjects. I need to have a word with the king and find out what deal he made.”

Bruce still doesn't look convinced about this, however, but there's not much else can do. “Those are your orders Bruce, get Charles and Richard to do their part, this is the only solid lead we have., and I'm not going to let it slip away.”

Especially if the old man's involved in this.