Adam
*He raised an eyebrow at the prince's words.* "I am by no means the norm. As I have said, many in the forest would give you trouble for that crown on your head. I have chosen a peaceful meeting, but most of the bandits I have met are dishonorable cutthroats who prey on the weak." *He spat these words out as he thought of the other bandits. Some were honorable like him, but most would steal from the poor and leave them to starve. It's why he worked alone, that and the other thing...*

"And why should I trust you? You say your job is to protect against banditry, but your men demand the hard earned wealth of the people, and burn down villages when they don't pay enough. Sounds awful like banditry to me. Why would I go along with the ruler of the men who burned my village?" *As he spoke the grip on his bow would tighten. He was surprised the Prince of the Kingdom that took his parents was an honorable man. Something wasn't right with this whole situation.*
Lupe
"I am well aware you are not the norm, sir. It is why I am thankful that you are the one I have happened to meet here." *The prince regarded the spiteful man with a curious eye. There was indeed something about this one that spoke of tragedy and misfortune, as all his mannerisms - the way he spoke, the bile he spewed - seemed formed of experience. It was a wonder that the man hadn't mellowed already, unless this event had been rather recent.*

"You have no reason to trust me but the experience you have, and the manner in which I continue to act. I also have no reason to trust you but the experience we are having currently. In that vein, do you know the names or sigils of the men who unjustly burned down your village? The penalty for murder is death in this kingdom." *He rummaged through his saddlebags for parchment and ink, though he did not carry a pen - instead, the iron gall ink of the bottle arranged itself into a thin spike, ready for writing.

It **Did** Sound like banditry to him, he was correct. There was much corruption to root out in the kingdom, and that was his job just as much as destroying banditry and managing the army.* "I will also need your testimony in a court of law, as opposed to just this written admission and statement, and some evidence of their presence in your village, which I am sure I can find in mercantile records of their movements. I would also need perhaps a scrap of an old banner or more eyewitnesses. When one person says that a crime was committed, it triggers an investigation, this is true, but if I am to judge fairly, I must know beyond your word, as the court system demands."
Adam
*Richard lessened the grip on his bow, but kept his distance. Was this another trick? The prince seemed genuine, but it could be a trick to lure him out into the open where more soldiers could apprehend him.*

"I'll take you to the ruins, you can gather whatever information you need there. But I am not coming with you. As you said, we can only trust people based on experience, and you're about to see mine." *If the prince wanted to try and bring his parents justice, who was he to stop him? But this could be the latest act of betrayal. If so he wouldn't be surprised. If not, It'll happen again eventually. Best to keep to himself and help others so they won't suffer like he did.*
Lupe
*He nodded back to Richard, though he doubted that the man truly understood that facing one's accuser was necessary for a trial.* "Indeed. I had hoped for an uneventful outing, but clearly, this is a more pressing matter. Justice is a duty, and hunting is simply a hobby. Though I do apologize..." *He turned to Roesia.* 

"I had hoped we'd be able to continue the trip. This man is rather serious, and I would prefer to fulfill my duty rather than shirk it for a good time, though I would very much like to hunt with you again." *Jerrod and Michael kept eyes on Richard, wary of the man's tricks. This was a forest, after all, and not an open road where there was less chance to set up an ambush.*

"You do realize that if you truly wish to see your village satisfied, and honor repaired, you will have to come to trial? No weapons, no tricks, no mystery? Even now you do not tell me the sigil or the name of the men who burned your village down - everyone has heraldry, and with an eye as sharp as yours, one would have thought you knew it and knew it well. As least I may take it down for recording. You must understand that it is not as simple as identifying the evil - the accuser must stand to face the accused. Otherwise, who is to say that the courts are not manufacturing some story to remove political opposition? There is no justice there." 

"I encourage you to be forthcoming with the information I need for conviction, and if you are not willing to come yourself, bring another eyewitness with evidence to one of the royal rangers. I decree that anyone who sees a man matching your description delivering a person and evidence be sent directly to my custody, and then a trial will proceed, as I can preside. One of the benefits of nobility." *He gave a pointed look to the ranger Jerrod, who nodded back to him, witnessing the decree for the moment. It was now law.*
David
~~After totally not spacing out for an entire conversation,~~ Roesia had been quietly spectating the back and forth between the prince and who she believed to be the Wolf of Greenheart. Hearing his village had been destroyed by seemingly Alynthi's own soldiers caught Roesia off guard. While she was from Findara, she had heard countless stories of how welcoming and *Safe* Alynthi was, which is what drew her to its forests. Hearing the prince address her caused her to turn once more, now standing sideways so she could see each of the men equally once more. She placed a hand on Angus's neck once more and she could feel his muscles tense, just like the feeling between the entire group of people gathered in the clearing right now. Roesia could feel the two guards' anxiousness about the stranger from a mile away, but before she could worry about anything else she responded to the prince's apology.

"I don't mind coming along if you'll have me, my lord" *And there it was. A slip in her common facade.* Though she herself had not noticed, she shrugged and nodded to the stranger. "I may not know of the loss you speak of, but I know what it means to feel wronged. I'd be happy to help you if you need another bow at your side." Lifting her own bow as a sign of honestly, she offered a kind smile to the Wolf of Greenheart. All the talk of law however only made her anxious about getting involved, but she missed people more than anything else about her lonely life in the woods.
Lupe
*The slip passed over his head, as first impressions were rather easy to make, and the prince was not focusing on the conversation at the moment. Surely, she had still said m'lord, as opposed to the proper way that ladies of any court were taught. He nodded back to her simply. The mentions of how safe and welcoming Alynthi was were mentions that he intended to keep coming - the rule of his father had been a happy one, and it was only his own rule that he was afraid would turn the country for the worse.*

"I would be honored if you would join us." *He did appreciate the support - an attempt at bridging the gap clearly present was always welcome, and this man's cool attitude was a bit of a tough wall to break down. It would happen with time only, and risk from himself. It was entirely possible that this was not a bandit with a heart of gold, but simply a bandit trying to lure them in for the gold of his crown. At that offense, however, the forest would most **Certainly** Be burned down in recompense, and that was an outcome that he was wont to avoid. No further harm had to come from this bitter man.*
Adam
*He stood there for a minute, staring off into space. Even though it was three years ago, he could remember the day the thugs burned his village. Men in black leather, with no heraldry or insignia of any kind. Other than the King's emblem. Burning houses, killing townsfolk, his parents carried away in wagons, the memories were painful. This kind of thing could not be allowed to happen again. He may be offering safety, but many a bandit-hunter had offered him so called "Protection" Only to attempt to capture him. Many wound up dead after that. To risky. Best they part ways sooner than later. But he would lead him to the village. May as well get some good out of it.*

"If you require my presence in person than your out of luck." *He sat down on a nearby log as he said this.* "As to who attacked my village, it was several dozen men. Some bore the royal arms, some none at all. But they came swift and fast. They slaughtered the few defenders we had, plundered homes, killed without Mercy, including women and children. They carried many people off to who knows where. My parents were among them. My brother was killed. As to eyewitness, I doubt any are still alive. If you wish you can go on your way, and I'll pretend this meeting never happened. But if you are so dedicated to avenging what your kingdom's men did to me, come to the village and see for yourself."
David
As they two men spoke more, Roesia took the time to mount Angus and straighten his hair a bit. The half-elf gave a look over to the prince, a silent confirmation she was with him if he needed her to be before nodding toward the Wolf of Greenheart. Her eyes were filled with a sort of pain, though she couldn't understand exactly what he felt, she felt sorry for his loss. "I'm sorry that has happened to you." Given his description of what happened, it was obvious whoever was left alive was most likely sold off into slavery. It was outlawed in Alynthi, making it very possible corrupt soldiers were working with bandits to sell commoners to other kingdoms for coin. She wouldn't put it past anyone, not even soldiers from the 'safest kingdom' in Lucidien.

*Every rose had its thorns.*
Lupe
"I am sorry for your loss. It truly worries me that someone has done this to the subjects of my kingdom, and doubtless, they will be repaid in kind for their cruelty." *The relatively happy childhood of Astalios was nothing compared to the dread of seeing all the people one cared about ripped away. He swung back onto his horse with a ready step, and gestured to Richard to lead the way. It hit a soft spot to think of how his own childhood might have been different as a lone child king...*

"Justice means you face them in court. If you kill them outside of the bounds of the law, it is a murder regardless of whether it is justified. And how do you plan to find them? I can do so with the power to request shipping records, and possibly piece together who they were from that incident, or records in the royal palace. But three years ago, I was commanding our forces personally, privy to every operational record. No villages were ordered burned for lack of tax funds by royal forces, and certainly the royal forces do not operate unless my father or I have ordered them to do so." *He tried to lay it out as logically as possible, a gentle tone to his voice as he rode forward.*

"I have the power to subpoena records, but you cannot simply say 'people did this', blame the nobility in general, and expect to find the men. I need your help as much as you need mine if we expect to find anyone that has done this crime. And I assure you, whoever you are, your crimes can be pardoned by royal decree if necessary if there's a warrant out for you on any charge but something much more severe than this village burning." 

"This is a serious crime indeed, and it shall not go unpunished if we are to maintain the state of peace and happiness our citizens are meant to enjoy."
Adam
*He walked in silence as he lead them down the seldom-used trail, painful childhood memories flooding into his mind. There were more reasons that he hated nobility, not just the one attack. But the thugs burning his town was the worst. Before then he had been a happy little child.*

*He eventually spoke up after several minutes* "There was one man. Dressed in similar armor to your armor, with a black cape. He clearly was a nobleman, and he commanded the assault. I'll draw a picture, but I will not appear at court unless you can prove both who he is, his guilt, and my parents whereabouts, or their fate. Yes, justice is important, but it failed me three years ago when those thugs burned my home to the ground. And many men, on both sides of your law, have tried to decive me with offers of justice. None have kept their word."
Lupe
"Then finally I will have something to work with, if your drawing of his face is accurate. This proof and the results of my investigation will be sent by way of familiar to the ruins of the village if I succeed. I will, of course, need your testimony to make it stick, but gathering information should be no trouble for a man who rules by divine right, and whose authority is unchallenged." *He spoke confidently as he followed Richard down the path on his warhorse, the massive storm-gray destrier stepping confidently on iron-shod hooves. The Clydesdale of Roesia, however, was just as large. A massive, well-trained draft horse was a rare sight in the forest...*

"I have no reason to be unsure of my own actions. I shall simply have to show you the same pattern, that you might gain a bit more faith in me. And perhaps with time, heal the rift." *There was nothing more to say to Richard before they reached the village, and that admission was his word.* 

"Again, I apologize for involving you in this investigation. I was under the impression that all we were going to do was go our separate ways, perhaps talk of our horses for a few minutes, then find another quail or deer that wasn't being shot simultaneously." *He mentioned to Roesia, turning his attention back on her as they made their way along.* 

"I do hope that you're not inconvenienced. I was having a rather good time hunting. Perhaps I will do it again sometime soon, and we will shoot different animals, but happily end up in the same spot once again."