The Negotiations

Inaon looked to Vindicus as he spoke another sonnet, one that she did not have in front of her. She was rather confused at first about his little out burst be she assumed that it was another written work that she would eventually study later. She glanced at Juno and couldn't help but notice the blush that was now staining her cheeks. She would have to question her on that once they were alone. Inaon watched as Vindicus left before turning and listening to Junario speak and let her use the book later. A small smile came to the empress' lips as she relaxed as well into the comfortable cushions of her couch.

"I might have gone a little into the morning with my work possibly, though is was all for a good cause. As for a holiday I wish I could have one but a queens work is never done...Besides, if I left then I am certain that Vindicus wouldn't have his eyes on his work..." She said, her smile seeming to grow as she looked at Juno teasingly.
 
With the sound of the dryad's arrival a trio of guards came running, thinking an intruder might have made a clumsy attempt to jump the walls. When all they found was a tree they looked perplexed. While two stayed to watch the area in case it was a trick, the other ran to get one of the grounds keepers. Returning with him was a man apearing to be in his middle ages with a look of aprihension on his face.

With the grounds keeper unable to answer any questions regarding the tree the guards took it to a higher authority, going off again to bring back the head grounds keeper. Unable to answer any questions about the tree himself the same pair of guards left again, going to report the incident while the grounds keepers left the lone guard there to moniter the situation while they work a plan to remove the offending plant.

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Camus had been hard at work when the messanger came raping on his door announcing the, rather speedy, return of his Knight. "Tell Sir Gregir that I will meet him and our guest in the meeting room behind the throne room." He told the messanger who bowed and sped off. Before he left to meet with the pair, Camus decided to finish up a the last few reports before making his way downstairs.

Judging off of what they said, the threat from the Empire was even worse then he thought and they had even less time. Arriving in the apointed room, Camus stepped inside.
 
With the drink sending warm vibrations up his entire body, Atai followed the guard into the castle. It's brick lined walls rekindled his old feelings of pride and honor once again. The weight of his blade was suddenly very noticeable, and although he was bordering on drunk, his mind was clear and focused. Atai, still, held love in his heart for Ashliquent, but at the same time he could definitely see himself helping the King of Hauden. Atai guessed that whatever this was all about, it certainly could not be related to his goals and beliefs as an Ex-knight of Ashliquent.

They made their way through a series of doors, each guarded by a set of fully armored guards, until finally they came to a room that was located behind the throne room. Atai saw that some of the guards were looking him a little oddly, most likely wondering why he was being escorted to the throne room. His dress probably didn't help much either, after being in the elements for so long he had that 'road word traveler look'. The bottoms of his brown cloak were torn and most of the original leather on his boots was wearing thin.

"Sir, this is Atai Stonebarren, an Ex-Knight from the kingdom of Ashliquent." The guard introduced Atai to the King of Hauden.

Atai bowed and waited for the kings message.
 
Guards fussed around her. Leanna's branches shivered. In spite of the bad situation, it still amused her to see the bewildered expressions on their faces. She vaguely made out the words "take care of it" and "remove". Neither inspired confidence in her. She waited for them to separate. Eventually only one was watching her, and had her face bee visible there would have been a smirk winding across her lips. She sent a call to the trees across the wall, "Spread your roots. Hold this man, but don't hurt him. Please." The ground began to shift, a soft creaking filling the air.

Roots broke through the earth almost in slow-motion. Leanna started to shift back into her humanoid form as the roots encased the lone guard's foot. The creaked and cracked their way up, growing into a strong, woody prison round his legs. By the time she had melted back into her girlish body she was almost certain he wouldn't be able to move. She stopped in front of him momentarily, tilting her head to one side as she watched him haul at the roots, grunting angrily, then spoke up. Her voice was soft and whispery. "I'm sorry about this. I'll tell them to let you go when I'm out of the vicinity, provided you don't hurt them." She smiled at him and brushed a hand across the tangle of roots before turning to run in the only direction she could.

Into the castle.

Doubtless not the best choice of action, but she could hardly go back the way she came. The other guards would probably be back soon. She wandered onwards, her footsteps barely audible, though she was talking to herself in that same soft voice. "I do wonder, where would I be if I were a king? I'd rather like to see what one looks like." She poked her head around a door, wondering idly where everyone actually lived in a castle like this. More guards? Were they the only ones living here? She felt a pang of guilt about the one outside, but knew she couldn't release him quite yet.
 
The wayward traveler roamed the town inside of the castle walls slowly. Many of the residents who were on the streets seemed to either cower or keep their distance from him whether it was from the sinister look he brought upon any who caught his gaze or if it was his terrifying mount that he rode so casually as if it was of the norm. Either way he decided that to blend in slightly more he would dismount and store his steed although he doubted their stables were large enough to accommodate his. He slowly tugged the reigns making the beast turn into a dark alleyway where he got off and ran his hand along the body speaking in some unknown and very silent tongue before his hand glowed very faintly in a dark aura and his mount began to fade into it.

Once he was finished de-summoning his mount he looked back out towards the main streets and walked into the crowds once more. As he continued onward towards the castle he stopped by a few of the shops hoping to see if there were any exotic or otherwise strange weapons that he did not find from some of the dead or travelers who ventured foolishly before into his territory.
 
Following the dead guard's finger Vindicus sees the murderer, the undead had more uses then simple combat though thats where they excelled. The man was an outsider, if such a thing there could be in the collection of once independent and directive cultures not under the imperial banner and if anything the necromancer stood out more, even if it was only because when he walked seemingly out of nothing he was instantly recognized.

Everyone knew the Empress' advisor even though he seldom stepped foot in the street his description and reputation and a necromancer were far from secret, besides even a child could tell what he was.

"Greetings guest." he said coldly behind the man. "It seems you take issue with bureaucratic delay so I though I'd come see you directly, though before you proceed I think you owe me and this city an explanation.

On his side was strapped his sword, a cold mist constantly falling from it even in the sunlight and while he hadn't drawn it his offhand rested on the pommel while his right was ready to unleash all the curses and spells he had command of, a far more potent weapon than any blade.
 
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