Bazel nodded, "Yes I did. Let me get a candle and I'll show you the simpler passageways. I'll show you a bit every day as if I tried to do it all at once it'd be...well rather overwhelming. I'll go through later and mark the main ones we'll be using while we're at it. No sense in you getting lost in there like I did in the past,"<br/><br/>And Bazel had gotten lost in the tunnels many times as a child. However, there had been little for him to do in the castle as a young boy. While it'd been a terrifying experience as a small child he was thankful for it. Without it, he wouldn't have the knowledge for them to evade the Witch's gaze...though Emris didn't seem all that comfortable with the tight space. Then again many people weren't overly fond of narrow enclosed spaces, so Bazel would try to make the trip as painless as possible for his...companion? Co-conspirator? Assistant? What did he refer to the other man as? None of those words seemed to fit, though Bazel was able to admit that companion had a much nicer sound than the others. Perhaps because it eased that ever-present loneliness that weighed on him. Allowed him to pretend for a moment that he was not isolated from the whole world by the circumstances of his birth.<br/><br/>But such melancholy thoughts wouldn't help him.<br/><br/>Instead, he opened his desk and rooted around to find half a candle and the candle holder. Despite it being a room that Bazel spent a great deal of time, including at night, there was a lack of candles. Though as it was just a little before noon such a thing wouldn't be noticeable, at least not yet. Though if Emris came into his study at night he'd see it lit by something other than candles. Small bell-shaped flowers twisted around several of the bookshelves and hung from vines on the ceiling. While closed during the day, they glowed brightly at night. The light was far more pleasant than candlelight or rather was to Bazel. Perhaps Emris would like it too. He'd shown an interest in 'the King's Guard' so perhaps he'd be interested in the Sundrops as well. Not that he'd know that till later.<br/><br/>Almost as an afterthought he grabbed a small bag and placed a few apples from the tray in it, he then lit the candle and headed back towards the passage entrance. He gave Emris what he hoped was a reassuring smile before leading the other man back into the passages. The gentle glow of the candle illuminated the stone walls and Bazel took a piece of wrapped charcoal out of his pocket to mark the door as his study. He then led Emris down the twisting paths.<br/><br/>"Most of the time you'll be using the path that goes from your room to my study which is a straight route. The other two you'll end up using a lot are the ones to the kitchens and the escape route," Bazel took a turn at a fork, stopping only to mark the correct way back before continuing on, "There's always food in the kitchens, but outside of dinner the staff doesn't bother to deliver any of it to anyone outside of the Witch. They don't notice when food goes missing so feel free to help yourself to whatever you want when you're hungry,"<br/><br/>Bazel pushed open the door to the kitchens and walked over to a pantry, pulling out a few carrots to add to the bag. A few servants were milling about. Unlike his father who's gaze was largely vacant, as though everything had been stripped from him, the servants looked sedated. As though their lives couldn't get better. As though they had no worries, or concerns...or even self-preservation. Especially as one nearly chopped off his finger while cutting some vegetables and staring off into space. Bazel when is but there is very little that he could do. But that didn't stop the sinking feeling he got in his gut he turned his head and went back towards the passage entrance.<br/><br/>It wasn't in an obvious space though even if it had been the servants wouldn't have noticed it too caught up in whatever was going on in their heads. It was yet another reason for Bazel to hate the witch. Of course, he never spent much time around the servants. His few attempts to interact had ended horribly, especially his last one. He'd never done anything to hurt them, much the opposite actually. However, with all the rumors that abounded about him, they were incredibly wary. Not that they had much reason to trust the nobility anyway. Or to assume that his helped came without some trade-off. Though really all he had done had been to give them a simple remedy for something that no one should suffer from. And certainly not something someone should die from. Though given some other members of the nobility and their treatment of their servants Bazel couldn't blame them for the reaction.<br/><br/>However, it had stopped him from making any further attempts at interaction.<br/><br/>Pushing the thoughts aside Bazel reentered the passageway and headed in the opposite direction. Even though he spent a lot of time down in the tunnels, and was even comfortable there most days, the walls suddenly felt very very close. As though they grow narrower in the few minutes they've been in the kitchen. It made him want to be somewhere else, anywhere else. That also could have been because he was once again reminded of exactly what the which in turn had turned his home into.<br/><br/>Basil led Emris once more to the winding tunnels that this time his steps were quicker. His motions as he marks the route no longer smooth. The marks however we're still legible. When they reach the next door Basile stopped and turn to face the other man, "this door leads to the exit near the stables. It'll be the quickest way out of the castle should something happen,"<br/><br/>He led them out then paused, "If-if at any time you feel your life is threatened use this route to leave. I know what I asked of you is a lot, and it certainly isn't something that one should ask a complete stranger, and I more than appreciate your willingness to help but should there come a time when it seems like we might fail I will not think less of you for leaving. As I said before there's no certainty of success. Though I would like to try and keep the loss of life to the barest minimum. And would hate for you to meet your end because I dragged you into this,"<br/><br/>Bazel then gave a small sad smile that didn't reach his eyes, "though I probably should have thought of that beforehand,"<br/><br/>The Prince then turned and headed towards the stables. Before he could reach them there is a sound of barking. Bazel's entire body went stiff as one of his brother's hunting hounds came running through the tangle of rose bushes. It was a fairly large dog with drooping ears and sagging jowls. A snarl on his face and his fangs bared. The prince wasted little time in turning tail and running like a rabbit. He scrambled into the stall with his horse and up onto the gelding's back. There, he clung to the horse's neck.<br/><br/>The dog was unable to make the jump over the gate and instead stood growling on the other side. That was until the canine noticed Emris. The dog's demeanor then changed. The hound trotted up to the other man and sniffed at his hand showing no sign a hostility. Instead, he shoved his big head into Emris' hand wishing to be petted. Though no longer in danger of being bitten Bazel stayed where he was.<br/><br/>"H-he must have got out of the pen" The prince's voice wobbled, "Gawen probably hasn't been by to visit him since the witch showed up,"<br/><br/>The hound was Gawen's favorite, bred for the hunt. If not for Bazel the dog would never be far from his brother's side. Something Bazel did feel bad for...but he liked not getting mauled everytime he approached his brother. Not that he approached Gawen much anymore.<br/><br/>"His name's Saber," Bazel called, still showing no sign from moving from his spot. In fact, until the dog was put away he wasn't going anywhere, "The pen isn't too far, just follow the path to the left and you can't miss it,"