Grev and Sansir dragged Es’ naked feet through across the flagstone tiling as they brought his unconscious body over to the carriage. With a grunt and a heave they managed to throw him on to the bench next to Ranvir, who was sleeping cradling his bucket.

Still no vomit, Grev noted with delight. Hopefully that means we’ll make it through fine.

The carriage rocked as Dovar slumped against it, knocking his head against the wall, “It shouldn’t have been nearly that hard,” his face was smeared in yellow paint, his outfit was ruined by more streaks, smudges of dirt, and it all stank of smoke from the emberleaf tree.

“I can’t believe I almost missed it,” Sansir muttered, sitting down on the carriage steps. He too was smeared with dirt and paint, the smell of woodsmoke hanging around him.

“I don’t think you did,” Grev groaned pressing his hands against his back, “I don’t know we’d have gotten him without you,” Grev himself had mostly managed to avoid getting too much dirt on him, though, he was just as liberally streaked in paint and no one had avoided the smell. How can one man cause that much trouble?

“What a nightmare,” Dovar said sounding tired. They looked at each other a moment before bursting into laughter, earning them growled complaints from Ranvir as he turned his back to them.

Yrsa, who approached from the house, cleared her throat a few steps away. Their laughter faded as Dovar pushed off to meet with her. “Right,” Grev muttered, giving Sansir a brief kiss before stepping around him and into the carriage.

Es and Ranvir was an odd sight. Ranvir rested his head against his smaller friend’s shoulder as he cradled his metallic companion of contentment. Es only wore a guest’s robe that had been fetched from the mansion. It left him exposed from the knees down along with vast swathes of his chest, displaying the yellow paint liberally smeared upon it.

I wonder if he’s going to remember any of this, Grev thought chuckling to himself.

They still weren’t sure where his clothes had gone or where he’d gotten the paint, but they’d found him and gotten him into the carriage. This was the home stretch. Grev rolled his head, wincing at a crick in his neck as he sat down opposite the sleeping drunks. Sansir got in next to him weaving his hand tightly through Grev’s as he sat down and Grev sighed, If the carriage was just a little wider, he eyed the vast expanse of chest he could’ve leaned on.

Before he could say anything, Dovar said his last goodbye to Yrsa and turn towards the carriage. The structure rocked as he got in next to them and closed the door, tapping against the wall to signal the driver.

They were all silent for a moment. Sitting with bated breath, waiting for something to go wrong. Finally, Grev let out a long breath, as the others chuckled. “I can’t believe that happened,” Sansir said.

“I can’t believe he got all that paint,” Dovar muttered.

“I’m more curious where he got all those dogs from,” Grev said feeling his eyes grow heavy as the wheels gained a steady rhythm across the cobblestones. “I mean do you have any neighbors that breed them?”

“Not to my knowledge,” Dovar replied.

Grev yawned and leaned against Sansir as best he could, pulling their knitted hands closer and wrapping the other around his bicep. He yawned again, This ain’t half bad.

“I can’t believe you can fall asleep in these things,” Sansir muttered.

“It’s a gift.” Grev said closing his eyes.

Minul stopped underneath the canopy of the largest oak tree in her gardens, and also the capital, seeing that table and privacy screens had been set out. She was having an early dinner while the sun was still out and it was actually hot enough to enjoy for once. She was also taking the opportunity for a meeting as she knew Leif wasn’t in the palace today, but having a meeting with Hildrid at the Royal School.

She nodded to her guests as she sat down at the head of the small table, noting the fine table cloth that had been set out for them. The rich brown cloth had likely been chosen as it’s earthy tones didn’t clash with the bark of the oak, nor the rich green leaves that were finally sprouting.

“Your Majesty, My Queen,” Despite his infirmity and age Ragnar still insisted on getting up and bowing to her as she arrived, even when he was the only one doing so. Though, she did note that Pashar emulated his bow from where she was seated. He was probably easier to work with if she met him halfway.

“Thank you, Ragnar,” Minul said as she nodded to Saif. There were two great things about this location. Due to the blooming canopy of the tree, no one could look in on them from on high, nor could they approach too closely without making themselves very clear thanks to the flat planes of this area of the garden. And with the privacy screens erected no one could see who the Queen was dining with.

“Let’s begin eating,” She said as they all waited on her. All but Saif who’d already begun cracking lids to look at the food underneath them. They ate in silence until Saif cleared his throat, looking at Minul accusatorily, “Where are the eggs?”

Minul looked up feigning surprise, “There are none, not for this meal.”

Saif looked at her like she’d stabbed a knife in his chest and had begun listing reasons for why this betrayal was coming. As he began gasping and growing increasingly red-faced, Minul rolled her eyes and returned to her eating.

The triplet master continued to throw a fit for a few minutes more before summoning a servant and ordering a large serving of scrambled eggs. The dinner continued, Saif waiting impatiently as Minul initiated some polite conversation with the others.

With Saif’s serving finally arriving and the meal mostly finished Minul cleared her throat, “Things are proceeding well. Almost everything is in order and you should’ve received your invitations as well.”

“Yes,” Saif said immediately, even though his mouth was full of eggs.

“You will address the Queen properly and with the respect she deserves,” Ragnar said scowling at the ankirian. “And thank you, my Queen. Again, I apologize for refusing your invitation.”

“It’s fine, Ragnar,” Minul said giving him a narrow smile. “As we agreed before hand, you have to remain here for the plan to work.”

“Still…” the old man grumbled, though the same devotion that made him uncomfortable denying a fake invitation also forced him to acknowledge her words.

“Your Majesty,” Pashar interrupted before Saif could let fly the snide comment he’d clearly already loaded up alongside his next mouthful. “If I may ask, what are we missing at this point?”

“With Svenar coming along, I have handle on the assistance for the guardsmen, but I still need at least a handful more tethered in case the Masters’ Council tries anything.”

Ragnar cleared his throat, “If I may suggest, your Majesty?”

“Of course,” she waved for him to continue.

“I would suggest of course, the young Ayvir who’s both skilled and freshly tested from the front lines. Then the masters Torli, Geirleif, Orulf is probably a safe bet as well, you might want to bring Floki, Steinbitr is a strong combatant though he’s getting a little old. Hadr, though he’ll likely be one of Councilor Ulf’s adjunct, is very capable and deep down loyal to our nation.”

Minul nodded noting the names down mentally, “Thank you, Ragnar. Do you have any updates on your situation?”

He nodded wiping his face with a cloth after swiping the last bite of his meal, “I do, your Majesty. I’m happy to announce that I’ve gotten a few men into both Serpent-Vein and Sworden families guardsmen. They aren’t high-ranking positions, but they know enough to tell me that most of their forces at least aren’t fully aware of what they are preparing for.”

“That’s good to know, you think some of them will turn?”

“There’s a solid bunch from what I understand, though, your Majesty, my men are being careful and keeping themselves limited to smaller groups for now. We don’t want them to blow their cover.”

“Understandable.”

“On top of that, I’ve gathered a few men I knew from my army days and have them moved into some of the less occupied dormitories in the academy. Good reliable second-stage soldiers who I’d put my trust in.”

“And how are the potential planning for fighting going?”

“I have some plans set in motion, your Majesty. If you hear about road blocks appearing in the next couple of days, you don’t have to rush out men to fix them,” he bowed again as he finished his report.

“Very good, Principal. Things are going well. Keep up the good work, all of you.”

Technically Pashar didn’t need to be there, however, she was the only one who could sneak Ragnar in and out without being discovered.